Patent ID: 8709743

Claim:
A method of determining if a small molecule is a bacterial nitric oxide synthase (bNOS) inhibitor, comprising the steps of: a) preparing a first solution comprising bacteria taken up by macrophages, wherein said bacteria expresses bNOS; b) adding to the first solution a transition metal-containing fluorescein-based sensor, thereby forming a first mixture; c) incubating the first mixture for a first period of time, thereby forming a first sample; d) measuring the fluorescence of the first sample; e) preparing a second solution comprising the first solution and a small molecule; f) adding to the second solution the transition metal-containing fluorescein-based sensor, thereby forming a second mixture; g) incubating the second mixture for a second period of time, thereby forming a second sample; h) measuring the fluorescence of the second sample; i) comparing the fluorescence of the first sample with the fluorescence of the second sample; and k) identifying the small molecule as a bNOS inhibitor when the fluorescence of the second sample is reduced compared to the fluorescence of the first sample; wherein steps (d) and (h) are both completed within less than about 8 hours after the bacteria are taken up by the macrophages.