Patent ID: 6905840

Claim:
A method for identifying a compound having antifungal activity, the method comprising: (a) providing a population of double mutant fungal cells, the cells having genetic mutations of at least a first and a second gene wherein (1) the genes encode motor proteins that have antagonistic and complementary functions; (2) the mutation of said first gene or said second gene results in loss of function of the protein encoded thereby, but does not prevent cellular proliferation; and (3) mutation of said first and second genes results in the loss of function of both proteins encoded thereby and prevents proliferation under restrictive conditions; (b) incubating the mutant fungal cells under a restrictive condition where the genetic mutations inhibit growth of the cells; (c) contacting the mutant fungal cells with a test compound under the restrictive condition; and (d) determining whether the test compound allows proliferation of the mutant fungal cells under the restrictive conditions, indicating the test compound relieves the effects of at least one of the mutations and is a potential antifungal agent.