1;Preface;6 2;Contents;8 3;Biosurfactants: A General Overview;10 3.1;1 Introduction;11 3.2;2 Physicochemical Properties, Formation of Micelles, and Other Aggregates;11 3.3;3 Biosurfactant Production in the Environment;15 3.4;4 Conclusions;16 3.5;References;17 4;Rhamnolipids: Detection, Analysis, Biosynthesis, Genetic Regulation, and Bioengineering of Production;21 4.1;1 Introduction and Overview;22 4.2;2 Rhamnolipid Structure, Detection, and Analysis;24 4.2.1;2.1 Structure;24 4.2.2;2.2 Methods of Detection and Analysis;25 4.2.2.1;2.2.1 Qualitative Methods;25 4.2.2.2;2.2.2 Quantitative Methods;26 4.3;3 Biosynthesis and Genetic Regulation;29 4.3.1;3.1 Biosynthesis of Rhamnolipids;30 4.3.1.1;3.1.1 Biosynthesis of the Lipid Moiety of Rhamnolipids;30 4.3.1.2;3.1.2 Biosynthesis of Rhamnolipids-Rhamnose Moiety;35 4.3.1.3;3.1.3 Three Last Enzymatic Reactions in Rhamnolipids Biosynthesis;36 4.3.2;3.2 Regulation of Rhamnolipid Biosynthesis;37 4.3.2.1;3.2.1 Genetic Regulation of Rhamnosyltransferases;38 4.3.2.2;3.2.2 Genetic Regulation of Biosynthesis of Sugar Moiety;40 4.3.2.3;3.2.3 Regulation of Rhamnolipid Production by Environmental Factors - Links Between Quorum Sensing and the Environment;41 4.4;4 Bioengineering of Rhamnolipid Production;42 4.4.1;4.1 Production by P. aeruginosa;42 4.4.1.1;4.1.1 Fermentation Strategies;42 4.4.1.2;4.1.2 Foaming Problems Encountered During Fermentative Production;45 4.4.1.3;4.1.3 Nutritional Factors Affecting Rhamnolipid Production;46 4.4.1.4;4.1.4 Recovery of Rhamnolipids;48 4.4.2;4.2 Alternatives to P. aeruginosa for Rhamnolipid Production;49 4.4.2.1;4.2.1 Heterologous Production of Rhamnolipids;49 4.4.2.2;4.2.2 Non-P. aeruginosa Rhamnolipid Producers;50 4.5;5 Conclusion: Prospectives for the Industrial Production of Rhamnolipids;51 4.6;References;51 5;Surfactin and Other Lipopeptides from Bacillus spp.;64 5.1;1 Introduction: History of Lipopeptide Discovery in Bacillus spp.;65 5.1.1;1.1 Surfactins from Asia;65 5.1.2;1.2 Iturins from Africa;66 5.1.3;1.3 Concomitant Discovery of Fengycin and Plipastatin;67 5.1.4;1.4 Kurstakins, a New Family of Lipopeptides from Bacillus spp.;67 5.1.5;1.5 Conclusion;67 5.2;2 A High Diversity of Structures;67 5.2.1;2.1 Surfactin and Related Compounds;68 5.2.2;2.2 The Family of Iturins;70 5.2.3;2.3 Fengycin or Plipastatin, Who´s Who?;71 5.2.4;2.4 Other Lipopeptide Compounds, the Kurstakins;71 5.2.5;2.5 Conclusion;72 5.3;3 Catalytic Assembly Lines for the Biosynthesis of Lipopeptides: From the Genes to the Biomolecules;72 5.3.1;3.1 Modular Enzymes: A Complex Catalytic Machinery Dedicated to the Biosynthesis of Secondary Metabolites;72 5.3.1.1;3.1.1 Discovery of the Non-ribosomal Peptide Synthesis;72 5.3.1.2;3.1.2 The Main Catalytic Domains;74 5.3.1.3;3.1.3 Secondary Catalytic Domains;74 5.3.1.4;3.1.4 Protein-Protein Interactions;75 5.3.2;3.2 Non-ribosomal Peptide Synthesis of Surfactin and Lichenysin;75 5.3.2.1;3.2.1 The Surfactin Operon;75 5.3.2.2;3.2.2 The Lichenysin Operon;76 5.3.2.3;3.2.3 Structure of an Entire Termination Module;76 5.3.3;3.3 The Hybrid PKS/NRPS Complex Involved in Iturin Biosynthesis;77 5.3.4;3.4 Non-ribosomal Peptide Synthesis of Fengycin and Plipastatin;78 5.3.5;3.5 The Recent Discovery of the Biosynthesis Mechanism of Kurstakin;78 5.3.6;3.6 Conclusion;79 5.4;4 A Complex Regulation of the Biosynthesis;79 5.4.1;4.1 Quorum Sensing and Surfactin Efflux;79 5.4.2;4.2 Influence of Environmental Factors;81 5.4.3;4.3 Conclusion;82 5.5;5 Physico-chemical Properties and Biological Activities: A Strong Relationship;82 5.5.1;5.1 Surfactin: A Potent Biosurfactant, Which Combines High Effect on Surface Tension and Low Critical Micellar Concentration;82 5.5.2;5.2 Iturin: A Strong Antifungal Compound;84 5.5.3;5.3 Fengycin and Plipastatin: Immunomodulators in Plants and Animals;84 5.5.4;5.4 Lipopeptides: Versatile Weapons for Biocontrol of Plant Diseases;85 5.5.5;5.5 Conclusion;85 5.6;6 New Strategies for an Optimal Production of Novel or Existing Lipopeptidic Com