Targanta Therapeutics, Inc.

Phagetech, Inc.

Philippe Gros

Jerry Pelletier

Michael DuBow

Mike DuBow

Dominique Bergeron

The invention relates to bacterial genes and proteins that are implicated in the process of DNA replication and also to bacteriophage genes and their protein products that interact with bacterial proteins involved in DNA replication. More particularly, the invention relates to compositions and methods involving an essentialgene and its encoded protein STAAU_R9. In addition, the invention relates to screening assays to identify compounds which modulate the level and/or activity of STAAU_R9 and to such compounds.

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This invention relates to newly identified polynucleotides and polypeptides, and their production and uses, as well as their variants, agonists and antagonists, and their uses. In particular, the invention relates to polynucleotides and polypeptides of a() DnaI related protein, as well as its variants. The invention also relates to a specific interaction between theDnaI related protein or specific regions thereof, and a growth-inhibitory protein encoded by thebacteriophage 77 genome. The phage open reading frame (ORF) product interacts with amino acids 150&#x2013;313 ofDnaI polypeptide, and the invention relates to the use of this interaction target site as the basis of drug screening assays. Accordingly, the invention provides a method for the inhibition of bacterial growth, and the treatment of bacterial infection via the inhibition of DnaI.

The disclosure concerns particular bacteriophage open reading frame, and portions and products of those open reading frames which have antimicrobial activity. Methods of using such products are also described.

This invention relates to newly identified polynucleotides and polypeptides, and their production and uses, as well as their variants, agonists and antagonists, and their uses. In particular, the invention relates to polynucleotides and polypeptides of a ( ) DnaI related protein, as well as its variants, hereinafter referred to as &ldquo; DnaI&rdquo;, &ldquo; DnaI polypeptide(s)&rdquo;, and &ldquo; dnaI polynucleotides&rdquo; as the case may be. Also, the invention relates to a specific interaction between the DnaI related protein and a growth-inhibitory protein encoded by the bacteriophage 77 genome. The phage ORF product interacts with the DnaI polypeptide, and the invention contemplates use of this interaction target site for the basis of a drug screening assay. In addition, the invention relates to polynucleotides and polypeptides of a protein complex containing DnaI and DnaC related proteins, as well as their variants.

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St. Lambert, Canada

Philippe Gros