The present invention includes methods for treatment and prophylaxis of diseases, post-surgical disorders and bacterial infections associated with lactosylceramide. The methods generally provide for administration for a mammal, particularly a human, of a therapeutically effective amount of a compound that inhibits UDPGal:GlcCer&bgr;1−>4 galactosylceramide (GalT-2). In vitro and in vivo assays for detecting compounds with therapeutic capacity to modulate GalT-2 are also provided.