Light-Activated Rhenium Complexes with Dual Mode of Action against Bacteria

New antibiotics and innovative approaches to kill drug-resistant bacteria are urgently needed. Metal-complexes offer access to potential alternative modes of action and have only sparingly been investigated in antibacterial drug discovery. We have developed a light-activated rhenium complex with activity against drug resistant bacteria. The activity profile against mutant strains combined with assessments of cellular uptake and synergy suggest two distinct modes of action.