The present disclosure relates to chemical compounds, methods for their discovery, and their therapeutic and research use. In particular, the present disclosure provides compounds as therapeutic agents against bacterial infections (e.g., biofilms). The present disclosure also provides compounds as therapeutic agents in methods for treating pneumonia, methods for reducing bacterial virulence, methods for treating a bacterial wound infection, and methods for treating a urinary tract infection. The present disclosure also provides methods for treating a bacterial infection, wherein the bacterial infection has or is suspected of having an antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The present disclosure also provides surfaces coated with the chemical compounds disclosed herein.