Patent ID: 6475726
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: A01K,C07K,C12N,C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
A method for identifying one or more compounds that are candidates for binding to a target cell component in a pathogen and inhibiting infection of a mammal by the pathogen comprising:a) constructing a pathogen comprising a regulable gene encoding a biomolecule which binds to the target cell component; b) infecting one or more test animals with the constructed pathogen, and one or more control animals with the constructed pathogen or with a control pathogen; c) regulating expression of the regulable gene to produce the biomolecule in the test animals; d) monitoring the test animals and the control animals for signs of infection, wherein observing fewer or less severe signs of infection in the test animals than in the control animals indicates that the biomolecule is a biomolecular inhibitor of infection by the pathogen; and e) identifying one or more compounds that compete with the biomolecular inhibitor of infection for binding to the target cell component in a competitive binding assay; whereby, if a compound competes with the biomolecular inhibitor of infection for binding to the target cell component, then the compound is a candidate for binding to the target cell component in the pathogen and inhibiting infection of a mammal by the pathogen.