Patent ID: 7592154

Claim:
A method of screening for an antibiotic enhancing agent, the method comprising: a) contacting a cell containing an SOS pathway polypeptide comprising dpiA, dpiB, recA, lexA or sfiA, with a candidate agent; b) determining the effect of said agent on SOS pathway polypeptide function; and c) determining the effect of said agent on said antibiotic function by i) assaying the lethality of said antibiotic on said cell in the presence of said agent and in the absence of said agent, and ii) comparing the said effects, wherein increased lethality in the presence of said agent than in the absence of said agent indicates that the agent enhances antibiotic function; and wherein an antibiotic enhancing agent is one that disrupts said SOS pathway polypeptide function and enhances said antibiotic lethality.