This locus is a single chromosome in a bacterium that can be turned on or off in response to threats from the environment, such as an antibiotic. When the chromosome is turned on, it shuts down the entry points that antibiotics use to invade the bacterium, and turns on pumps that remove any drug that might enter the cell. If this mechanism can be disabled, the bacteria become vulnerable to the effects of an antibiotic. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Vertex Pharmaceuticals is using computer technology to search for potential candidates for new antibiotic compounds. They are targeting an enzyme called DNA gyrase.
Most antibiotics come from natural products.
We're designing an antibiotic from the very first step. The computer can simultaneously test thousands of compounds, as well as evaluate the fit of potential molecules. Charifson believes the DNA gyrase B program has strong potential to yield a breakthrough drug. The company plans to choose a critical candidate in 2001. It is too early to predict when a drug might be available to physicians.