Biocidal and antibiofilm activities of arginine-based surfactants against Candida isolates.

Amino-acid-based surfactants are a group of compounds that resemble natural amphiphiles and thus are expected to have a low impact on the environment, owing to either the mode of surfactant production or its means of disposal. Within this context, arginine-based tensioactives have gained particular interest, since their cationic nature-in combination with their amphiphilic character-enables them to act as broad-spectrum biocides. This capability is based mainly on their interactive affinity for the microbial envelope that alters the latter's structure and ultimately its function.