Uses of glicolipidic biosurfactant produced by the yeast Whickerhamomyces anomalus CCMA 0358

Abstract

Biosurfactants are secondary metabolites produced in the stationary phase of microbial growth, of an amphiphilic nature and have the potential to be applied in various industries, such as detergents, petroleum, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food industry. Bacteria are the main group of microorganisms that produce biosurfactants, but are also produced by filamentous fungi and yeasts. One of the major advantages of the use of yeasts in the production of biosurfactants is that most have the status GRAS (generally recognized as safe), which allows the application of their products in the pharmaceutical and food industry. The objective of this work was to evaluate the biotechnological potential of a glycolipid produced by yeast Wickerhamomyces anomalus (CCMA 0358) using different substrates, such as olive oil, used soybean oil and palm oil. The antibacterial and antiadhesive activity of the crude biosurfactant were determined using the microdilution method in plaques against the bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis evaluated at different concentrations. The antifungal activity was performed against Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Cercospora sorghi, Colletotrichum truncatum, Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium solani. The results showed that the yeast Wickerhamomyces anomalus CCMA 0358 is able to produce biosurfactant in different substrates, which was able to inhibit the growth and adhesion of all evaluated bacteria, demonstrating antibacterial capacity of up to 100% and antiadhesive, reaching 31% of inhibition. In addition, it inhibited the growth of all phytopathogenic fungi and food contaminants used by up to 95% over the control. In addition to showing promising antimicrobial results against bacteria and fungi contaminating food and phytopathogenic fungi, the yeast W. anomalus is able to produce the biosurfactant from an inexpensive substrate, such as soybean oil used, which allows a greater possibility of applications due to its low cost.