Anti-bacterial methods and materials

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus virulence genes are identified, thereby allowing the identification of novel anti-bacterial agents that target these virulence genes and their products, and the provision of novel S. aureus mutants useful in vaccines.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of identifying an anti-bacterial agent comprising the steps of assaying potential agents for the ability to interfere with expression of virulence gene products represented by the DNA sequences set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 through 94, and identifying an agent that interferes with expression of said virulence gene products.  
     
     
         2 . A method of identifying an anti-bacterial agent comprising the steps of assaying potential agents for the ability to interfere with the function of a bacterial protein encoded in whole or in part by a DNA sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 through 94 or the complementary strand thereof, and identifying an agent that interferes with the function of said bacterial protein.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the protein is involved in cell surface metabolism and is encoded by the DNA sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 6, 60 and 65 (corresponding to signature tag identification numbers P2C73, P11C29, P13C83, P9B65 and P10B89).  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the protein is an enzyme involved in a cellular biosynthetic pathway and is encoded by the DNA sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 4, 11, 13, 22, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35 and 82 (corresponding to signature tag identification numbers P9B74, P5C4, P9B66, P14C15, P13B26, P7C18, P15C31, P10B18, P6B18, P10B66, P10C34 and P12C3).  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the protein is a component of the TCA cycle and is encoded by the DNA sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 37, 39, 41, 43 and 44 (corresponding to signature tag identification numbers P4C27, P4C52, P10B2, P10C20 and P12C32).  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the protein is an oligopeptide transport proteins and is encoded by the DNA sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 15, 17, 19, 54, 75, 77 and 79 (corresponding to signature tag identification numbers P7C26, P10C15, P5C3, P11C66 and P5C34).  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the protein is involved in cellular regulatory and repair processes and is encoded by the DNA sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS: 8, 21, 46 and 84 (corresponding to signature tag identification numbers P4C15, P6C63, P13B74, P13C72, P10B30 and P14B25).  
     
     
         8 . The method of any one of claims  1  through  7  wherein the assay used is an enzyme assay.  
     
     
         9 . The method of any one of claims  1  through  7  wherein the assay used is a binding assay.  
     
     
         10 . The method of any one of claims  1  through  7  wherein the assay used is a two-hybrid screening assay.  
     
     
         11 . The method of any one of claims  1  through  7  wherein the assay is being used to screen for a ligand by binding to target protein.  
     
     
         12 . The method of any one of claims  1  through  7  wherein the assay used is an affinity ultrafiltration assay.  
     
     
         13 . A  Staphylococcus aureus  organism containing a functional mutation in a gene represented by any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 through 94, said functional mutation resulting in a reduction in virulence of the organism.  
     
     
         14 . A vaccine composition comprising the  S. aureus  organism of  claim 13.