The present invention comprises the murM and murN genes expressed from the
Streptococcus pneumoniae murMN operon, the murM and murN proteins encoded
by the respective genes as well as oligonucleotides to amplify the genes.
MurM and MurN are proteins involved in forming a branched muropeptide
structure in S. pneumoniae peptidoglycan which is associated with
.beta.-lactam antibiotic resistance in the bacteria. Also provided are
methods for identifying inhibitors of MurM or MurN along with methods of
treating subjects suffering from a S. pneumoniae infection by
administering MurM or MurN inhibitors in conjunction with a .beta.-lactam
antibiotic.
