Microbial drug target identification using different computational approaches: Specific application to Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Traditionally, most bacterial drug targets are identified using expensive and time-consuming genetic screens, biochemical tests and cellular assays. In recent times, drug-target identification by in silico methods has emerged causing a phenomenal achievement in the field of drug discovery. This paper focuses on describing how microbial drug target identification can be carried out using bioinformatics. Specifically, it highlights the use of the following methodologies for drug target identification: metabolic 'choke point' and 'load point' analyses, homologybased analysis of drug target identification, DrugBank database and structure based druggability analysis of PDB structures. More systems analysis methods should be developed for understanding metabolic network in drug discovery process which in turn will generate more in-depth understanding of the mechanism of diseases and thus provide better guidance for drug discovery.