Towards therapeutic applications of carbon monoxide releasing molecules

Abstract

"The misuse of antimicrobial drugs over the past decades has led to an increased number of Multi-Drug-Resistant (MDR) pathogens, from bacteria, funghi to parasites. Pathogenic bacteria, such as, Methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and MDR Escherichia coli pose a serious threat to society, as several outbreaks have occurred over the past decades. Fungal infections that can lead to pneumonia and meningitis are also highly drug resistant. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) priority pathogen list includes fungal species like Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Aspergillus fumigatus. Malaria is responsible for 600 thousand deaths per year, and due to the lack of a effective vaccine and the increasing cases of Plasmodium MDR species, millions of lives are threatened by this parasite. Carbon monoxide releasing molecules (CORMs) that release CO in a controlled manner, have been shown to be effective against a wide range of pathogens, including E. coli, S. aureus and Plasmodium spp. The work presented in this thesis aimed to elucidate the mechanism of action of CORMs and their possible use as antimicrobial agents(...)"