Methods of inhibiting HSP70 proteins, agents causing the inhibition of HSP70 proteins, and the effects of such inhibition on cell proliferation. Anti-microbial agents comprising small molecules, or pharmaceutical salts thereof, disclosed herein and further methods of use thereof are also disclosed. The disclosed small molecules, or pharmaceutical salts thereof, are effective in inhibiting microbial chaperone activity in microbes, such as homologs of HSP70. The disclosed small molecules, or pharmaceutical salts thereof, are also effective for the therapeutic treatment of cancer.