Interaction of an acidic sophorolipid biosurfactant with phosphatidylcholine model membranes

Sophorolipids (SLs) constitute a group of unique biosurfactants (BS) in the light of their outstanding properties, among which their antimicrobial activities stand out. SLs can exist mainly in an acidic and a lactonic form, both of which display inhibitory activity. Given the amphipathic nature of SLs it is feasible that these antimicrobial actions are the result of the perturbation of the physicochemical properties of targeted membranes. Thus,...