AIM To determine the function and cellular localization of GS-encoded proteins and to assess their potentialas drug targets and vaccine components.METHODS Bioinformatics software was used to predict the function of GS-encoded proteins and theirlocation within MAP. Protein modelling software was used to build protein structures.RESULTS The gene gsa is a truncated glycosyl transferase and probably non-functional. gsbA and gsbBproduce GDP-fucose which is methylated by gsc and acetylated by mpa. gsd is a fucosyl transferase whichattaches fucose to subterminal rhamnose on cell surface glycopeptidolipid. gsa, gsbA and gsbB and gsc arelocated within the cytoplasm. mpa is embedded in the plasma membrane with 10 transmembrane regions anda conspicuous extracellular loop. gsd is lipid-linked and predicted to localize to the microbial cell surface.CONCLUSION GS encodes the biosynthetic machinery to give MAP a surface coat of methylated andacetylated fucose which may contribute to its protease-resistant nature and ability to minimize immunerecognition. The gsbA/gsbB operon and gsd are promising drug targets and gsd is a good candidatecomponent of a new class of anti-MAP vaccines.