Patent ID: 8821860

Claim:
A method to identify an antimicrobial specific for one or more related microorganisms, the method comprising: identifying a lytic enzyme expressed and encoded by a microorganism or by a microorganism related thereto to provide a candidate antimicrobial, the lytic enzyme capable of targeting one or more moieties presented on the exterior of the microorganism, the one or more moieties providing the microorganism with structural support and/or protection; contacting the candidate antimicrobial with the microorganism for a time and under condition to allow an antimicrobial activity of the candidate antimicrobial on the microorganism; and selecting the candidate antimicrobial having a detectable microbial killing or growth inhibition activity for the microorganism wherein the identifying is performed by comparing sequences of the microorganism with a model lytic enzyme and selecting the candidate antimicrobial having at least about 40% identity or about 50% similarity with the at least one model lytic enzyme or the portion thereof.