Sophorose is a disaccharide component of the microbial glycolipids produced by yeast termed sophorolipids. Due to their hydrophobic nature, sophorolipids are often employed as biosurfactants. Sophorolipids also demonstrate antibacterial, antifungal, spermicidal, virucidal, and anti-cancer activities. Sophorose has been identified as a potent inducer of cellulase gene expression in studies of T. reesei fermentation.
