SCAN: The Antimicrobial Action of Carbon Monoxide-Releasing Compounds

The Antimicrobial Action of Carbon Monoxide-Releasing Compounds - A Novel Type of Bactericides

Abstract

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless and odorless diatomic gas, chemically inert, that occurs in nature as a product of the incomplete combustion of organic matter. The knowledge that the human body was able to produce small quantities of CO and the evidence that CO-derived from heme-oxygenase (HO) activity contributes to important intracellular functions has modified our perception of CO as a pernicious toxin to include its beneficial effects. In the present work we examined the effect of CO on bacterial cell proliferation. Cell growth experiments show that CO causes rapid death of the two pathogenic bacteria tested, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, particularly when delivered through CO releasing molecules. Our results constitute the first evidence that CO can be utilized as an antimicrobial agent. We anticipate our results to be the starting point for the development of novel types of therapeutic drugs designed to combat antibiotic-resistant pathogens, which are widespread and presently a major public health concern.

Short CV

2000-2005 – Degree in Biochemistry by the Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa

2004-2005 – Undergraduate training at the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Microbial Resistance at ITQB

PhD fellowship by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia since January of 2006, on the "Study of nitrosative stress responsive genes of pathogens" under the supervision of Doctor Lígia Saraiva.