Sophorolipid biosurfactants: Possible uses as antibacterial and antibiofilm agent.
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.
School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. Electronic address: mayri.diazderienzo@manchester.ac.uk.
Mayri A
MA
Díaz De Rienzo
School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, UK.
Ibrahim M
IM
Banat
School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
Ben
B
Dolman
School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
James
J
Winterburn
School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
Peter J
PJ
Martin
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006017:Glycolipids; D013501:Surface-Active Agents