This invention provides a method for inhibiting the growth of a microorganism that expresses Peptide Deformylase by contacting the microorganism with an effective amount of the compound described herein. This method inhibits the growth of gram-positive and gram-negative microorganism, e.g., S. aureus, S. epidermidis, K. pneumoniae, E. aerogenes, E. cloacae, M. catarrhalis, E. coli, E. faecalis, H. influenzae and P. aeruginosa. This method can be practiced in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo. Further provided is a method for alleviating the symptoms of an infection by a Peptide Deformylase expressing microorganism in a subject by administering or delivering to the subject an effective amount of the compound described above.