title: Microbial genomics - new targets, new drugs.
abstract: Genomics has changed our view of the biological world in the past decade, providing both new information and new tools to characterise biological systems. Over 100 microbial genomes - including many of substantial clinical importance - have been fully or partially sequenced, pushing the search for novel antimicrobial compounds into the post-genomic era. Genomic information and associated new technologies have the potential to revolutionise the drug discovery process. Genomic methods have created a wealth of potential new antimicrobial targets; strategies are evolving to provide validation for these targets before chemical inhibitors are identified. The ability to obtain large amounts of purified target proteins and advances in X-ray crystallography have caused significant increases in available protein structures, which may foreshadow an increased effort in structure-based drug design. The post-genomics strategies used in antimicrobial drug discovery may have application for small molecule drug discovery in numerous therapeutic areas.
authors.affiliation: Genencor International, 925 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto CA 94304, USA. mschmid@genencor.com
authors.forename: Molly B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Schmid