Glycolipid amphiphiles produced by Starmerella bombicola as multifunctional preservatives : opportunities and challenges

Sophorolipids and sophorosides, glycolipid biosurfactants produced by microorganisms such as Starmerella bombicola, exhibit unique surface-active and bioactive properties. These compounds hold potential for applications across diverse sectors, including home and personal care, pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture, and even metallurgy. Structural variability has been expanded through efforts in strain engineering of the wild type yeast strain and chemical modification of sophoroside glycolipids, enabling the development of a portfolio of structurally diverse amphiphiles. In this study, the diverse bioactive properties of these novel compounds were demonstrated against multiple prokaryotes and fungi, demonstrates the potential synergy of thoughtful biotechnology and targeted chemistry to precisely tailor glycolipid biosurfactants to meet specific requirements across applications. Although highly promising for use in various sectors, several challenges remain. This study discusses the insights into the antimicrobial activity of glycolipid amphiphiles, their added value as multifunctional compounds (opportunities), but the hurdles (challenges) that must be addressed for their future applications as well.