Computer-aided target selection - prioritizing targets for antifungal drugdiscovery

The entire DNA sequence of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome was complete d in 1996 and represents the first entirely decoded eukaryotic genome. Beca use major human pathogenic fungi such as Candida albicans are closely relat ed to S. cerevisiae on a molecular level, the question arises as to how thi s new information can be used to identify and prioritize those genes that a re most suitable as targets for antimycotic drug discovery. To tackle this challenge, a software tool called CATS (computer-aided target selection) wa s developed. The authors describe how it allows an automated and periodical ly updated assessment of all S. cerevisiae genes to be carried out with reg ard to their suitability as antifungal targets.