ABSTRACT
Talent is like the marksman who hits a target which others cannot reach; genius is like the marksman who hits a target, as far as which others cannot even see. —Arthur Schopenauer, The World as Will and Representation, 1819 (translated from German by E. F. J. Payne) SummaryInfectious diseases represent the dark side of the wilderness which humankind still has to contend with, especially diseases which affect the majority of the world population still living in poverty. The disease pathogens have essential components or processes which can be specific targets for drugs and vaccines. A variety of approaches can be used to identify such targets, including gene knockouts and chemical genomics. Random screening of compounds already available in large pharmaceutical collections can also provide new leads, even when the targets have not yet been identified.
