A method of identifying a molecule capable of inducing death of a
bacterial cell which includes exposing toxin and antitoxin polypeptides
of a toxin-antitoxin pair produced by the bacterial cell to a plurality
of molecules, and identifying a molecule of the plurality of molecules
capable of preventing or disrupting binding between the antitoxin and
said toxin polypeptides, thereby identifying the molecule capable of
inducing death of the bacterial cell.