Sophorolipid biosurfactants: Possible uses as antibacterial and antibiofilm agent

• Published in: New biotechnology 2015-12, Vol.32 (6), p.720-726
• Main Authors: Díaz De Rienzo, Mayri A., Banat, Ibrahim M., Dolman, Ben, Winterburn, James, Martin, Peter J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena - drug effects; Biofilms - drug effects; Biofilms - growth & development; Cell Adhesion - drug effects; Cell Adhesion - physiology; Cell Survival - drug effects; Glycolipids - chemistry; Glycolipids - pharmacology; Surface-Active Agents - chemistry; Surface-Active Agents - pharmacology
• ISSN: 1871-6784; 1876-4347
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2015.02.009

•Sophorolipids (SLs) can act as a bactericidal agent against C. necator and B. subtilis.•SLs are disruptors of B. subtilis biofilm on static and flow conditions.•SLs may be used as molecules to recover PHAs produced by C. necator. Biosurfactants are amphipathic, surface-active molecules of microbial origin which accumulate at interfaces reducing interfacial tension and leading to the formation of aggregated micellular structures in solution. Some biosurfactants have been reported to have antimicrobial properties, the ability to prevent adhesion and to disrupt biofilm formation. We investigated antimicrobial properties and biofilm disruption using sophorolipids at different concentrations. Growth of Gram negative Cupriavidus necator ATCC 17699 and Gram positive Bacillus subtilis BBK006 were inhibited by sophorolipids at concentrations of 5% v/v with a bactericidal effect. Sophorolipids (5% v/v) were also able to disrupt biofilms formed by single and mixed cultures of B. subtilis BBK006 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 9144 under static and flow conditions, as was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that sophorolipids may be promising compounds for use in biomedical application as adjuvants to other antimicrobial against some pathogens through inhibition of growth and/or biofilm disruption.