Methods for the identification of inhibitors of histidinol-phosphate as antibiotics

Abstract

The present inventors have discovered that histidinol-phosphatase is essential for fungal pathogenicity. Specifically, the inhibition of histidinol-phosphatase gene expression in fungi results in small, non-sporulating lesions and reduced pathogenicity. Thus, histidinol-phosphatase can be used as a target for the identification of antibiotics, preferably antifungals. Accordingly, the present invention provides methods for the identification of compounds that inhibit histidinol-phosphatase expression or activity. The methods of the invention are useful for the identification of antibiotics, preferably antifungals.