Isolation, characterization and antibacterial effect of biosurfactant from Candida parapsilosis

In the present study, a biosurfactant producing Candida parapsilosis strain was isolated and identified by our laboratory. Different biosurfactant screening tests such as drop collapse, oil spreading, emulsification index and hemolytic activity confirmed the production of biosurfactant by the isolated Candida parapsilosis strain. The biosurfactant showed significant emulsifying index, drop collapse and oil-spread activity. The partially purified biosurfactant was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS). The FT-IR results indicated phenol (OH), amide (NH) and carbon functional group peaks like CO and CC at their identified places. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 13-docosenamide type of compound with a molecular weight of 337.5 g mol-1. The isolated biosurfactant showed significant antibacterial activity against pathogenic Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus strains at the concentrations of 10 and 5 mg ml-1 respectively. Growth inhibition of both Gram positive and Gram negative pathogenic strains designated the future prospect of exploring the isolated biosurfactant as broad spectrum antibacterial agent.