title: Biomedical and therapeutic applications of biosurfactants.
abstract: During the last years, several applications of biosurfactants with medical purposes have been reported. Biosurfactants are considered relevant molecules for applications in combating many diseases and as therapeutic agents due to their antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activities. Furthermore, their role as anti-adhesive agents against several pathogens illustrate their utility as suitable anti-adhesive coating agents for medical insertional materials leading to a reduction of a large number of hospital infections without the use of synthetic drugs and chemicals. Biomedical and therapeutic perspectives of biosurfactants applications are presented and discussed in this chapter.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal. lrmr@deb.uminho.pt
authors.forename: Lígia R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Teixeira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D006017:Glycolipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D013501:Surface-Active Agents