Techn. Universiẗat, Diss., 1999--Berlin.

O estabelecimento de biofilmes microbianos em superfícies é responsável por inúmeros problemas, já que estes podem constituir uma fonte de microrganismos patogênicos e deteriorantes. A formação dos biofilmes é precedida pela adesão dos microrganismos, assim, medidas que inibem ou reduzem essa adesão contribuem para a redução da formação de biofilmes. Uma alternativa para reduzir a adesão é o tratamento prévio das superfícies com biossurfatantes, agentes tensoativos de origem microbiana que apresentam baixa toxicidade, a vantagem de serem biodegradáveis, possuindo ainda atividade antimicrobiana e antiadesiva. O principal objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a potencialidade dos biossurfatantes surfactina e ramnolipídeo como agentes inibidores da adesão de Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19112, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Micrococcus luteus ATCC 4698 e Serratia marcescens ATCC 8100 em superfícies de poliestireno. Também foi estudada a influência de diferentes meios de cultura (TSYEA, ágar lactosado e ágar peptonado) e temperaturas (35ºC, 25ºC e 4ºC) sobre a adesão bacteriana. A surfactina apresentou maior capacidade em reduzir a adesão das bactérias em estudo, quando comparada ao ramnolipídeo. O meio TSYEA foi o que promoveu maior adesão ao poliestireno para maioria das bactérias. O condicionamento da superfície com surfactina reduziu entre 63% e 66% a adesão de L. monocytogenes, S. aureus e M. luteus (cultivadas em TSYEA). As melhores respostas antiadesivas foram obtidas quando o condicionamento da superfície e o ensaio de adesão foram realizados a 4ºC. A caracterização das superfícies de poliestireno (medidas de AC) e das superfícies bacterianas (teste MATS) forneceram informações que nos permitiram propor explicações sobre os fatores que influenciam o processo de adesão dos microrganismos nesta superfície, assim como o efeito antiadesivo exibido pela surfactina. Os resultados evidenciam a potencialidade do uso de surfactina como agente antiadesivo em superfícies de poliestireno, podendo atuar na inibição da adesão de vários patógenos. / Development of microbial biofilms on surfaces leads to various problems, since then can be a source of pathogenic microorganisms. Biofilms development are preceded by microbial adhesion, thus, procedures that inhibit or reduce adhesion contribute to reduce biofilm formation. An alternative to decrease bacterial attachment is the preconditioning of surfaces with biosurfactants, surface active products of microbial origin. This group of compounds has low toxicity, are biodegradable and present antimicrobial and anti-adhesive properties. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the potencial use of surfactin and rhamnolipid biossurfactants in the reduction of the adhesion of Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19112, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Micrococcus luteus ATCC 4698 and Serratia marcescens ATCC 8100 on polystyrene surfaces. The research was carried out using three different nutritive media (TSYEA, lactose agar and peptone agar) and three different temperatures (35ºC, 25ºC e 4ºC). Surfactin showed a higher capacity to reduce bacterial adhesion than rhamnolipid. When cultivation was performed in TSYEA, most of the bacterial species showed the highest values of adhesion to polystyrene. Surface preconditioning with surfactin reduces 63% to 66% the adhesion of L. monocytogenes, S. aureus e M. luteus (culture media TSYEA). The most significant anti-adhesive results were obtained when both, preconditioning and adhesion assay were carried out at 4ºC. Polystyrene surfaces characterization (contact angle measurements) and bacterial cells characterization (MATS test) provided information that allowed some explanation about the factors that influence microbial adhesion process on this surface and the anti-adhesive effect caused by surfactin. The results showed that surfactin has a great potencial to be used as anti-adhesive compound on polystyrene surfaces, reducing the attachment of several pathogenic bacteria.

O estabelecimento de biofilmes microbianos em superfícies é responsável por inúmeros problemas, já que estes podem constituir uma fonte de microrganismos patogênicos e deteriorantes. A formação dos biofilmes é precedida pela adesão dos microrganismos, assim, medidas que inibem ou reduzem essa adesão contribuem para a redução da formação de biofilmes. Uma alternativa para reduzir a adesão é o tratamento prévio das superfícies com biossurfatantes, agentes tensoativos de origem microbiana que apresentam baixa toxicidade, a vantagem de serem biodegradáveis, possuindo ainda atividade antimicrobiana e antiadesiva. O principal objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a potencialidade dos biossurfatantes surfactina e ramnolipídeo como agentes inibidores da adesão de Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19112, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Micrococcus luteus ATCC 4698 e Serratia marcescens ATCC 8100 em superfícies de poliestireno. Também foi estudada a influência de diferentes meios de cultura (TSYEA, ágar lactosado e ágar peptonado) e temperaturas (35ºC, 25ºC e 4ºC) sobre a adesão bacteriana. A surfactina apresentou maior capacidade em reduzir a adesão das bactérias em estudo, quando comparada ao ramnolipídeo. O meio TSYEA foi o que promoveu maior adesão ao poliestireno para maioria das bactérias. O condicionamento da superfície com surfactina reduziu entre 63% e 66% a adesão de L. monocytogenes, S. aureus e M. luteus (cultivadas em TSYEA). As melhores respostas antiadesivas foram obtidas quando o condicionamento da superfície e o ensaio de adesão foram realizados a 4ºC. A caracterização das superfícies de poliestireno (medidas de AC) e das superfícies bacterianas (teste MATS) forneceram informações que nos permitiram propor explicações sobre os fatores que influenciam o processo de adesão dos microrganismos nesta superfície, assim como o efeito antiadesivo exibido pela surfactina. Os resultados evidenciam a potencialidade do uso de surfactina como agente antiadesivo em superfícies de poliestireno, podendo atuar na inibição da adesão de vários patógenos. / Development of microbial biofilms on surfaces leads to various problems, since then can be a source of pathogenic microorganisms. Biofilms development are preceded by microbial adhesion, thus, procedures that inhibit or reduce adhesion contribute to reduce biofilm formation. An alternative to decrease bacterial attachment is the preconditioning of surfaces with biosurfactants, surface active products of microbial origin. This group of compounds has low toxicity, are biodegradable and present antimicrobial and anti-adhesive properties. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the potencial use of surfactin and rhamnolipid biossurfactants in the reduction of the adhesion of Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19112, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Micrococcus luteus ATCC 4698 and Serratia marcescens ATCC 8100 on polystyrene surfaces. The research was carried out using three different nutritive media (TSYEA, lactose agar and peptone agar) and three different temperatures (35ºC, 25ºC e 4ºC). Surfactin showed a higher capacity to reduce bacterial adhesion than rhamnolipid. When cultivation was performed in TSYEA, most of the bacterial species showed the highest values of adhesion to polystyrene. Surface preconditioning with surfactin reduces 63% to 66% the adhesion of L. monocytogenes, S. aureus e M. luteus (culture media TSYEA). The most significant anti-adhesive results were obtained when both, preconditioning and adhesion assay were carried out at 4ºC. Polystyrene surfaces characterization (contact angle measurements) and bacterial cells characterization (MATS test) provided information that allowed some explanation about the factors that influence microbial adhesion process on this surface and the anti-adhesive effect caused by surfactin. The results showed that surfactin has a great potencial to be used as anti-adhesive compound on polystyrene surfaces, reducing the attachment of several pathogenic bacteria.

Surfactin, a lipopeptide surfactant and antibiotic produced by Bacillus subtilis, exhibits a strong membrane perturbation. One of the drawbacks hindering its commercial applications is the unknown mechanism of surfactin self-resistance in the producer. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the self-protective mechanisms of the cytoplasmic membrane of B. subtilis against the deleterious effect of surfactin. In order to reach this task, two isogenic pairs of strains differing only in surfactin production were constructed. It was found out that the early response of the producer is realized by increasing the amount of total lipid content in the membrane already with the onset of surfactin synthesis. This process leads to lowering the surfactin-lipid ratio in the membrane. In parallel with the growing surfactin concentration the content of anionic phospholipids with cardiolipin as the major representative rises up to 24 % of the total. Together with the fall of phosphatidylethanolamine these changes promote the membrane stabilization and protect it against the interaction with surfactin. These alterations result in higher rigidity both of the polar head and hydrophobic chain region of the membrane as the steady state anisotropy of DPH and TMA-DPH showed. After 24 h of cultivation induction of...

Cytoplasmic membrane adaptation to surfactin in Bacillus subtilis 168 non-producing strain Surfactin, the most potent surface active compound and antibiotic is produced by bacteria of the genus Bacillus. Surfactin interacts with membrane bilayers, that results in destabilization and permeabilization of this structure. However mechanism of surfactin self-resistance in the producer's membrane is not understood. The aim of this study was to characterize the adaptive processes occurring at the level of cytoplasmic membrane of surfactin non-producing strain B. subtilis 168, which was exposed to exogenously added surfactin during the exponential phase of growth. The cultivation protocol of B. subtilis growth on agar media plates supplemented with surfactin was developed. Two surfactin concentrations that inhibit (400 g/ml) and even stimulate (300 g/ml) the growth of B. subtilis 168 strain were assessed. Surfactin brought about the growth arrest for 3 hours and the restored growth rate decreased in the case of inhibitory concentration, whereas the stimulatory concentration increased the growth rate and resulted in higher final density of the population. TLC was performed to analyze the polar head groups of membrane phospholipids. The portion of phosphatidylserine was found to increase at both surfactin...

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Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Biosurfactants are microbially produced molecules that show excellent surface-active properties. Bacillus subtilis ATCC 21332 produces the biosurfactant, surfactin, which exhibits antimicrobial activity against bacteria as well as fungi. Although antimicrobial activity has been exhibited by a number of bacterially produced biosurfactants, notably the rhamnolipid from the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the GRAS status B. subtilis makes the use of this organism preferable for large scale bioprocesses. The objectives of this study were to: (1) evaluate the effect of different nutrient conditions on growth and surfactin production; (2) evaluate the growth of B. subtilis ATCC 21332 and associated surfactin production on a hydrocarbon substrate; (3) evaluate the antimicrobial activity of surfactin against Mycobacterium aurum, and (4) to establish whether active growth of B. subtilis ATCC 21332 and associated surfactin production can be extended during fed-batch culture. B. subtilis ATCC 21332 was grown on low-nitrate; phosphate-limited and nutrient rich media with glucose as substrate during shake flask culture. Nitrate, phosphate, glucose and surfactin were quantified by HPLC analyses and growth via CDW and optical density measurements. Growth and surfactinproduction were further evaluated during shake flask cultureon a hydrocarbon substratereplacing the glucose in the nutrient rich medium with an equivalent amount of n-hexadecane. The antimicrobial activity was quantified by growth inhibition of M. aurum. Bioreactor batch and fed-batch studies were conducted to evaluate growth and surfactin production under controlled conditions. The fed-batch experiments included four constant dilution rate (D=0.40h-1; D=0.15h-1; D=0.10h-1 and D=0.05h-1) and two constant feed rate (F=0.40L/h and F=0.125L/h) fed-batch strategies. The nutrient rich medium was used for these experiments and also as the feed medium for fed-batch experiments. A CDW of 12.6 g/L was achieved in the nutrient rich medium during shake flask culture and was 2.5- and 1.6-fold higher than that achieved in the phosphate-limited medium and the lownitrate medium respectively. A surfactin concentration of 652 mg/L was achieved in the nutrient rich medium, while a maximum surfactin concentration of 730 mg/L was achieved in the phosphate-limited medium. A surfactin concentration of only 172 mg/L was achieved in the low-nitrate medium. Subsequently, growth and surfactin production were evaluated on n-hexadecane as sole carbon source. After inoculation, the CDW did not increase over a period of 119 h, which indicated that B. subtilis ATCC 21332 was unable to utilize n-hexadecane for growth and surfactin production. The maximum CDW (27 g/L) and maximum surfactin concentration (1737 mg/L) achieved in the bioreactor batch experiments were 2.1- and 2.6-fold higher respectively than that achieved in the nutrient rich medium during shake flask experiments. These results served as a benchmark for further fed-batch experiments. During the fed-batch phase of the D=0.40h-1 experiment, the biomass further increasedby 9 g/h, which was 3.5-, 3.1- and 5.3-fold higher compared to the fed-batch phases of the D=0.15h-1, D=0.10h-1 and D=0.05h-1 experiments respectively. Similarly, the biomass increased by 10.7 g/h during the fed-batch phase of the F=0.40L/h experiment, which was 4.6-fold higher than that of the F=0.125L/h experiment. The average rate of surfactin production was 633 mg/h during the fed-batch phase of the D=0.40h-1 experiment, 29.4-, 5.4- and 34.2-fold higher compared to the fed-batch phases of the D=0.15h-1, D=0.10h-1 and D=0.05h-1 experiments respectively. Analogously, the average rate of surfactin production (544 mg/h) of the F=0.40L/h experiment was 9.4 fold higher than that of the F=0.125L/h experiment. The antimicrobial assay showed that surfactin inhibits M. aurum growth. An inhibition zone diamater of 4mm was measured at a surfactin concentration of 208 mg/L, which linearly increased to 24mm at a surfactin concentration of 1662 mg/L. High feed flow rate strategies achieved higher rates of biomass increase and surfactin production and will thus decrease the production time required for large scale surfactin production.The antimicrobial activity of surfactin against M. aurum indicates that this biosurfactant has the potential to be used against M. tuberculosis, and as such has the potential to be used in the medical industry to reduce the spread of this, and other deadly diseases. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Biosurfaktante is oppervlak-aktiewe molekules wat deur sekere mikro-organismes geproduseer word. Bacillus subtilis ATCC 21332produseer ‘n biosurfaktant genaamd surfactin, wat antimikrobiese eienskappe toon teen bakterieë sowel as fungi.Menige bakterieël geproduseerde biosurfaktante toon antimikrobiese eienskappe, vernaam die rhamnolipied van die patogeen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, maar die algemene veiligheids-status van B. subtilis gee voorkeur aan hierdie organisme vir grootskaalse bioprosesse. Die doelwitte van hierdie studie was: (1) om die effek van verskillende medium samestellings (in terme van voedingstowwe) ten opsigte van bakteriële seldigtheid en surfactin-produksie te evalueer; (2) om die bakteriële seldigtheid van B. subtilis ATCC 21332 en geassosieerde surfactin produksie vanaf ‘n alkaan-substraat te evalueer; (3) om die antimikrobiese aktiwiteit van surfactin teen Mycobacterium aurum te evalueer; (4) om vas te stel of die aktiewe groei van B. subtilis ATCC 21332 en geassosieerde surfactin-produksie gedurende voer-lot kultuur verleng kan word. B. subtilis ATCC 21332 was op lae-nitraat; fosfaat-beperkte en voedingstofryk-media met glukose as substraat in skudflesse gekultiveer. Nitraat, fosfaat, glukose en surfactin was deur hoëdruk vloeistofchromatografie gekwantifiseer en die seldigtheid deur middel van seldroëmassa en optiese digtheid metings. Verder was die groei van B. subtilis, en geassosieerde surfactin produksie, vanaf ‘n alkaan-substraat in skudflesse ge-evalueer deur die glukose in die voedingstofryke medium met ‘n ekwivalente hoeveelheid van n-heksadekaan te vervang. Die antimikrobiese aktiwiteit van surfactin was deur die geїnhibeerde groei van M. aurum gekwantifiseer. Bioreaktor lot en voer-lot studies was uitgevoer om die groei en surfactin produksie onder beheerde toestande te evalueer. Die voer-lot eksperimente het vier konstante verdunningstempos (D=0.40h-1; D=0.15h-1; D=0.10h-1 en D=0.05h-1) en twee konstante voertempos (F=0.40L/h and F=0.125L/h) ingesluit. Die voedingstofryke medium was vir hierdie eksperimente en ook as die voermedium vir dievoer-lot eksperimente gebruik. ‘n Seldigtheid van 12.6 g/L is bereik gedurende skudfleskultuur in die voedingstofryk-media en was 2.5- en 1.6-voud hoër as die seldigthede wat in die fosfaat-beperkte en lae-nitraat media bereik is. ‘n Surfactin konsentrasie van 652 mg/L is bereik in die voedingstofryke medium, terwyl ‘n maksimum surfactin konsentrasie van 730 mg/L in die fosfaat-beperkte medium bereik is. ‘n Surfactin konsentrasie van slegs 172 mg/L is in die lae-nitraat medium bereik.Hierna was bakteriële seldigtheid en surfactin produksie geuvalueer met slegs n-heksadekaan as die enigste koolstof bron. Die bakteriële seldigtheid het geen verandering getoon na inokulasie nie, wat aangedui het dat B. subtilis ATCC 21332 nie die vermoë beskik om n-heksadekaan vir groei en surfactin produksie te gebruik nie. Die maksimum seldigtheid (27 g/L) en maksimum surfactin konsentrasie (1737 mg/L) bereik in die bioreaktor lot eksperimente was 2.1- en 2.6-voud hoër onderskeidelik as dit bereik in die voedingstofryke medium gedurende skudfles eksperimente. Hierdie resultate dien as ‘n basis vir verdere voer-lot eksperimente. Gedurende die voer-lot fase van die D=0.40h-1 het die biomassa verder verhoog teen 9 g/h, wat 3.5-, 3.1- en 5.3-voud hoër was as dit van die D=0.15h-1, D=0.10h-1 en D=0.05h-1 eksperimente onderskeidelik. Die biomassa het soortgelyk tydens die voer-lot fase van die F=0.40L/h eksperiment teen 10.7 g/h verhoog, wat 4.6-voud hoër was as dit van die F=0.125L/h eksperiment. Die gemiddelde tempo van surfactin produksie was 633 mg/h gedurende die voer-lot fase van die D=0.40h-1 eksperiment, 29.4-, 5.4- en 34.2-voud hoër vergeleke met die voer-lot fases van die D=0.15h-1, D=0.10h-1en D=0.05h-1 eksperimente onderskeidelik. Die gemiddelde tempo van surfactin produksie (544 mg/L) was soortgelyk 9.4-voud hoër gedurende die voer-lot fase van die F=0.40L/h eksperimente, vergeleke met die die F=0.125L/h eksperiment. Die antimikrobiese toetse van surfactin teen M. aurum het positief getoets, wat aandui dat surfactin die groei van hierdie organisme inhibeer. ‘n Inhibisie sone deursnee van 4mm was gemeet teen ‘n surfactin konsentrasie van 208 mg/L, wat lineêr verhoog het tot 24 mm teen ‘n surfactin konsentrasie van 1662 mg/L. Hoë voertempo strategieë het hoër biomassa verhogingstempos en surfactin produksie tempos getoon en sal dus die produksietyd aansienlik verkort tydens grootskaalse surfactin produksie. Die antimikrobiese aktiwiteit van surfactin teen M. aurum toon dat hierdie biosurfaktant die vermoë het om gebruik te word teen M. tuberculosis. Daarom het surfactin die potensiaal om gebruik te word in die mediese industrie om die verspreiding van Tuberkulose, en ander dodelike patogene, te voorkom.

Surfactin, a secondary metabolite produced by Bacillus subtilis, is a surface active compound and antibiotic permeabilizing membrane bilayer. The aim of this study was to reveal the self-resistance strategy at the level of the lipid moiety of cytoplasmic membrane, which B. subtilis employs to combat surfactin in concentrations that are lethal for other bacterial species. Non-producing strain B. subtilis 168 was cultivated in the presence of two different sublethal concentrations of surfactin (350 a 650 µg/ml), which was isolated from the culture broth of B. subtilis ATCC 21332. Presence of surfactin in the medium resulted in a concentration dependent lag phase, which took 40 min (350 µg/ml) and 3 h (650 µg/ml), respectively. Afterwards, the culture grew with the altered doubling time of 44 min (350 µg/ml) and 126 min (650 µg/ml), respectively. Surfactin induced substantial changes in the phospholipid composition of the cytoplasmic membrane. The proportion of the major phospholipid component phosphatidylglycerol decreased and inversely, the level of phosphatidylethanolamine increased. Interestingly, the content of phosphatidic acid rose considerably in the presence of surfactin concentration causing stimulation of B. subtilis growth (350 µg/ml). Liposome leakage assay using phospholipids mimicking...

Surfactin is an antibiotic produced by several strains of B. subtilis. Its broad range of biological activities is interesting from perspective of medicine, food industry and bioremediation and is based on its surface-active properties and interaction with biological membranes. The latter means mainly forming ion channels, conductive pores and with increasing concentration eventually disrupting membrane structure in detergent-like manner. Mechanism of resistance of producing strain against its own toxic product is not yet fully understood. This work shows that it could be based on surfactin target modification - which means altering membrane lipid composition. We were able to recognize surfactin-formed ion channels or pores with a broad range of conductivities spanning from 2 pS to 2 nS using BLM method. Liposome leakage assay with carboxyfluorescein revealed few distinct mechanisms of lysis, differing in amplitude, rate of lysis and cooperativity. Increased content of anionic lipids with conical shape, namely cardiolipin and phosphatidic acid led to substantial increased membrane resistance to surfactin-induced permeabilization. Key words: membrane, surfactin, Bacillus subtilis, cardiolipin, black lipid membranes, liposomes

Na natureza, os microorganismos podem apresentar forma de vida planctônica ou podem estar aderidos a superfícies formando comunidades conhecidas como biofilmes. A formação de biofilmes na indústria alimentícia é uma constante preocupação visto que os microorganismos aderidos podem causar contaminações persistentes, levando a deterioração do alimento e a transmissão de doenças. Uma alternativa para evitar a adesão bacteriana e a formação de biofilmes é o pré-condicionamento de superfícies com biosurfatantes, que são compostos tensoativos de origem microbiana capazes de alterar as propriedades físico-químicas e conseqüentemente modificar as interações entre a bactéria e a superfície. Os biosurfatantes, surfactina obtida de Bacillus subtilis e ramnolipídeo de Pseudomonas aeruginosa, foram testados quanto a capacidade de evitar a adesão e remover biofilmes de bactérias patogênicas de interesse alimentar. Foram avaliadas culturas individuais e mistas de Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, e Salmonella Enteritidis utilizando-se como modelo superfícies de poliestireno. O pré-condicionamento da superfície com surfactina na concentração de 0,25% reduziu a adesão de Salmonella Enteritidis e Listeria monocytogenes em 42%, enquanto que o tratamento com ramnolipídeo a 1% reduziu a adesão de Listeria monocytogenes e Staphylococcus aureus ao poliestireno em 57,8% e 67,8% respectivamente. O condicionamento com os biosurfatantes não se mostrou eficiente na redução da adesão das culturas mistas das bactérias se comparado aos resultados obtidos para as culturas individuais. O poliestireno condicionado com os biosurfatantes apresentou redução na hidrofobicidade devido ao caráter aniônico destas moléculas. A repulsão eletrostática e a redução das interações hidrofóbicas promovidas pelo condicionamento do poliestireno com ramnolipídeo foram fatores determinantes na atividade antiadesiva observada para L. monocytogenes e S. aureus, entretanto os resultados obtidos para a superfície tratada com surfactina sugerem que outros parâmetros influenciaram nos resultados observados. Após 2 h de contato a surfactina na concentração de 0,1% promoveu a remoção de 63,7% do biofilme de S. aureus, 95,9% do biofilme de L. monocytogenes, 35,5% do biofilme de S. Enteritidis e 58,5% do biofilme da cultura mista das três bactérias. Já o ramnolipídeo na concentração de 0,25% removeu 58,5% do biofilme de S. aureus, 26,5% do biofilme de L. monocytogenes, 23,0 % do biofilme de S. Enteritidis e 24% do biofilme da cultura mista após 2 h contato. De modo geral, o aumento do tempo de contato e da concentração dos biosurfatantes reduziu a remoção dos biofilmes. A surfactina e o ramnolipídeo demonstraram potencial para uso como agentes anti-adesivos assim como para a remoção de biofilmes de bactérias patogênicas de importância alimentar. / In nature, microrganisms can live as planktonic cells or can be found living in communities attached in surfaces forming biofilms. Biofilm represents a great concern for food industry, since it can be a source of persistent contamination that can lead to food spoilage and the transmission of diseases. To avoid the adhesion of bacteria and the formation of biofilms, an alternative is the pre-conditioning of surfaces using biosurfactants that are microbial compounds that can modify the physico-chemical properties of the surfaces changing bacterial interactions and consequently adhesion. The biosurfactants, surfactin obtained from Bacillus subtilis and rhamnolipids from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were evaluated as agents to avoid the adhesion and to disrupt biofilms of food-borne pathogenic bacteria. Individual cultures and mixed cultures of Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes e Salmonella Enteritidis were studied using polystyrene as the model surface. The pre-conditioning with surfactin 0,25% reduces in 42,0% the adhesion of L. monocytogenes and S. Enteritidis, whereas the treatment using rhamnolipids 1,0% reduced in 57,8% the adhesion of L. monocytogenes and in 67,8% the adhesion of S. aureus to polystyrene. The conditioning of surface with biosurfactants was less effective to avoid adhesion of mixed cultures of the bacteria when compared with the results obtained for individual cultures. The polystyrene surface conditioned with the biosurfactants showed a reduction in the hydrophobicity due to the anionic character of the molecules. The electrostatic repulsion and the reduction on hydrophobic interactions promoted by the conditioning of surface with rhamnolipids were determinant factors to explain the anti-adhesive activity observed for L. monocytogenes and S. aureus, however, the data obtained with surfactin suggest that other parameters have influenced the results observed. After 2 h contact with surfactin at 0,1% concentration, the pre-formed biofilms of S. aureus were reduced by 63,7%, L. monocytogenes biofilms were reduce by 95,9% , S. Enteritidis biofilms by 35,5% and the mixed culture biofilm by 58,5%. The rhamnolipids at 0,25% concentration removed 58,5% of biofilm of S. aureus, 26,5% of the biofilm of L. monocytogenes, 23,0% the biofilm of S. Enteritidis and 24,0% the biofilm of the mixed culture after 2 h of contact. In general, the increase in concentration of biosurfactants and in the time of contact decreases the biofilm remove percentage. These results demonstrate that surfactin and rhamnolipids present potential to be used as agents to control the attachment and to disrupt biofilms of food-borne pathogens.