The lipases from Thermomyces lanuginosus (immobilized by granulation with silica) and Candida antarctica B (adsorbed on Lewatit, "Novozym 435") were comparatively assayed for the synthesis of sugar esters by transesterification of sugars with fatty acid vinyl esters in 2-methyl-2-butanol:dimethylsulfoxide mixtures. We found that lipase from C. antarctica B is particularly useful for the preparation of 6.6'-di-acylsucrose, whereas T. lanuginosus lipase catalyzes selectively the synthesis of 6-O-acylsucrose. The granulated T lanuginosus lipase retained more than 80% of its initial activity after 20 cycles of 6 h. Both lipases were similarly effective for the regioselective synthesis of 6'-O-palmitoylmaltose and 6-O-lauroylglucose. The effect of the synthesized sugar esters on the growth in liquid medium of various microorganisms (Gram-positive, Gram-negative and yeasts) was evaluated. 6-O-lauroylsucrose and 6'-O-Iauroylmaltose inhibited the growth of Bacillus sp. at a concentration of 0.8 mg/ml, and of Lactobacillus plantarum at 4 mg/ml. Sucrose dilaurates and 6-O-lauroylglucose did not show antimicrobial activity, probably due to their low aqueous Solubility. As regards the inhibition of yeasts, none of the tested carbohydrate esters inhibited significantly the growth of Zygosaccharomyces rouxii and Pichia jadinii. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.