The present invention provides methods of treating microbacterial infections comprising administering to a subject in need thereof, a composition comprising a compound of formula I: wherein: X1, X2 and X3 are selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur, aminoalkyl, alkoxy, aryl, and heteroaryl, unsubstituted or substituted; and R1, R2, R3 and R4 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, actinium, silicon, germanium, cyano, alkyl, alkoxy, allyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, aminoalkyl, alkylamino, alkene, alkyne, aryl, halide, alkylhalide, alkyloxyalkyl, thioalkyl, alkylthioalkyl, alkylamino, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, unsubstituted or substituted; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The present invention further provides methods of treating bacterial infections comprising administering to a subject in need thereof, an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising uric acid, urate, derivatives thereof, salts and hydrates thereof and prodrugs thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.