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A growing world population and a growing number of applications for vegetable oils are generating an increasing demand for these oils, causing serious environmental problems. A sustainable lipid production is then fundamental to address these problems. Oleaginous yeasts are a promising solution for sustainable lipid production, but, with the current knowledge and technology, they are still not a serious alternative in the market. In this review, the potential of these yeasts is highlighted and a discussion is made mainly focused on the economics of the oleaginous yeast oil production and identification of the key points to be improved to achieve lower production costs and higher income. Three main stages of the production process, where costs are higher, were identified. To render economically feasible the production of oils using oleaginous yeasts, a reduction in production costs must occur in all stages, lipid yields and productivities must be improved, and production must be targeted to high-value product applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of biosurfactant obtained from the probiotic bacteriumLactococcus lactis53 to inhibit adhesion of four bacterial and two yeast strains isolated from explanted voice prostheses to silicone rubber with and without an adsorbed biosurfactant layer was investigated in a parallel-plate flow chamber. The microbial cell surfaces and the silicone rubber with and without an adsorbed biosurfactant layer were characterized using contact-angle measurements. Water contact angles indicated that the silicone-rubber surface with adsorbed biosurfactant was more hydrophilic (48°) than bare silicone rubber (109°). The results showed that the biosurfactant was effective in decreasing the initial deposition rates ofStaphylococcus epidermidisGB 9/6 from 2,100 to 220 microorganisms cm-2 s-1,Streptococcus salivariusGB 24/9 from 1,560 to 137 microorganisms cm-2 s-1, andStaphylococcus aureusGB 2/1 from 1,255 to 135 microorganisms cm-2 s-1, allowing for a 90% reduction of the deposition rates. The deposition rates ofRothia dentocariosaGBJ 52/2B,Candida albicansGBJ 13/4A, andCandida tropicalisGB 9/9 were far less reduced in the presence of the biosurfactant as compared with the other strains. This study constitutes a step ahead in developing strategies to prevent microbial colonization of silicone-rubber voice prostheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]