Patent ID: 6505126
Filing Date: 2003-01-07
Classification: C12N

Abstract:
A method for identifying a fungal-derived nucleic acid that is useful as a target for treatment of fungal diseases comprising:(a) determining if the nucleic acid shares substantial homology with nucleic acids present in bacterial species, other fungal species, or higher eukaryotic species, wherein substantial homology is indicated by a BLAST P(N) score of less than or equal to 10âˆ’5, and wherein BLAST analysis is performed using a scoring matrix selected from the group consisting of BLOSSUM 62 and PAM 120, and a filtering program selected from the group consisting of SEG and XNU; (b) assessing whether the nucleic acid is important for growth or viability of the fungal species from which it is derived; and wherein a fungal-derived nucleic acid which serves as a useful target for treatment of fungal diseases is identified as one which is (i) important for fungal growth or viability; (ii) does not share said substantial sequence homology with nucleic acid sequences present in any bacterial species and does not share said substantial sequence homology with nucleic acid sequences present in any higher eukaryotic species; and (iii) shares said substantial sequence homology with a nucleic acid sequence present in at least one pathogenic fungal species.