Lichenysin production and application in the pharmaceutical field

Abstract

Lipopeptides such as lichenysin are biosurfactants of great interest, due to the demand for natural surface-active agents with low toxicity. Bacillus licheniformis AL 1.1 produces a lipopeptide characterized as lichenysin (LchAL1.1), which acts as a powerful surfactant, able to reduce surface tension to 28.5 mN m-1 and with a critical micelle concentration of 15 mg L-1. LchAL1.1 is particularly effective in preventing biofilm formation by pathogenic strains, has an emulsifying capacity and permeabilizes membranes by a colloid-osmotic process. The production of lipopeptides from agro-industrial residues, particularly molasses, is a sustainable process of great potential for the development of economic bioprocesses.