title: Recent applications of biosurfactants as biological and immunological molecules.
abstract: The interest in microbial biosurfactants has steadily increased during the past decade. In addition to the classical application as emulsifiers of hydrocarbons, they can be used in environmental protection, crude-oil recovery, food-processing industries and in various fields of biomedicine. Biosurfactants have several advantages over chemical surfactants including lower toxicity and higher biodegradability, and are likely to become molecules of the future in areas such as biomedicine and therapeutics. Here, we discuss the role and applications of biosurfactants (mainly glycolipids and lipopeptides) focusing on medicinal and therapeutic perspectives.
authors.affiliation: IMTECH, Sector 39A, Chandigarh - 160036, India. swaranjitsingh@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Swaranjit Singh
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Cameotra
authors.forename: Randhir S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Makkar
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002175:Candida / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006017:Glycolipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D013501:Surface-Active Agents