Novel insights into the action of antimicrobial agents against human pathogens

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biochemistry

Nowadays, the growing increase of antibiotic resistance represents a global public health concern. Hence, it is crucial to understand the mode of action of antimicrobial agents and to develop new strategies to control bacterial infections. The work presented in this thesis contributes with new insights into the mechanisms that underpin the action of antimicrobial agents against pathogenic bacteria through: (i) the study of a putative nitroreductase of Staphylococcus aureus and its involvement in nitrofurans activation; (ii) elucidation of the mechanisms that sustain the antibacterial activity of the recently discovered Carbon Monoxide‐Releasing Molecules (CO‐RMs); and (iii) evaluation of the bactericidal effect of CO‐RMs on Helicobacter pylori.(...)