Four novel yeasts from decaying organic matter: Blastobotrys robertii sp. nov., Candida cretensis sp. nov., Candida scorzettiae sp. nov. and Candida vadensis sp. nov.

Four novel yeast species are described, two from decaying mushrooms, viz. Candida cretensis and Candida vadensis, and two from rotten wood, viz. Blastobotrys robertii and Candida scorzettiae.

Utilization of hexamethylenetetramine (urotropine) by bacteria and yeasts.

A slow growing bacterial population able to utilize hexamethylelenetetramine (urotropine) as sole source of carbon, nitrogen and energy was isolated from soil. From this crude enrichment culture two bacteria were isolated and identified as Brevundimonas diminuta and a Phyllobacterium sp. by sequencing of 16S ribosomal DNA.

Polysaccharides and phenolic compounds as substrate for yeasts isolated from rotten wood and description of Cryptococcus fagi sp.nov.

Pieces of rotten wood collected in the forest were screened for the presence of yeasts. In spring time 3 tree species were sampled, followed by 9 species in summer. Yeast strains were identified by traditional methods.

Cryptococcus allantoinivorans sp.nov., an anamorphic basidiomycetous yeast (Tremellales) physiologically resembling other species of the Cryptococcus laurentii complex that degrade polysaccharides and C2 compounds.

A novel Cryptococcus species is proposed to accommodate a yeast strain (CBS 9604) able to assimilate allantoin as sole carbon source, a characteristic very uncommon among yeasts. By traditional methods, the strain could not be distinguished from Cryptococcus laurentii, but nucleotide sequences of the D1D2 region of the large subunit (26S) and of the ITS region of ribosomal DNA showed relationship to the Bulleromyces clade of the genus Cryptococcus (order Tremellales) with some Tremella spp. as the closest relatives.

The yeast flora of some decaying mushrooms on trunks of living trees.

Several ascomycetous and basidiomycetous yeasts were isolated from rotten mushrooms on the trunks of beech and tamarisk trees. One strain, identified as the novel species Cryptococcus allantoinivorans, assimilated allantoin as the sole carbon source. Phylogenetically it belongs to the C.

Trichosporon wieringae sp.nov., an anamorphic basidiomycetous yeast from soil, and assimilation of some phenolic compounds, polysaccharides and other non-conventional carbon sources by saprophytic Trichosporon species.

A morphological and physiological description of an anamorphic basidiomycetous yeast species isolated from soil, named Trichosporon wieringae, is presented. The phylogenetic position within the genus, based on nuclear base sequencing of the D1/D2 region of the large subunit of rDNA and of the ITS region reveals close relationship to the Porosum clade of the genus Trichosporon Behrend, T. gamsii being the closest relative.

Saccharomyces bulderi sp. nov., a yeast that ferments gluconolactone.

An unknown yeast species was isolated from maize silage and was determined to be novel on the basis of morphological and physiological characteristics, nucleotide sequence of domain D1/D2 of LSU rDNA and from its electrophoretic karyotype. The name for the proposed new species is Saccharomyces bulderi Middelhoven, Kurtzman et Vaughan-Martini (type strain CBS 8638, NRRL Y-27203, DBVPG 7127). S.

Systematics of the anamorphic basidiomycetous yeast genus Trichosporon Behrend with the description of five novel species: Trichosporon vadense, T. smithiae, T. dehoogii, T. scarabaeorum and T. gamsii.

Phylogenetic trees of the anamorphic basidiomycetous yeast genus Trichosporon Behrend, based on molecular sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region and the D1/D2 region of the large subunit of ribosomal (26S) DNA, are presented. This study includes three novel species from soils, Trichosporon vadense sp. nov.

The yeast flora of the coast redwood, Sequoia sempervirens.

Only four yeast species could be isolated from young and perannual shoots of the coast redwood tree, Sequoia sempervirens, and from soil beneath the trees, viz. both varieties of Debaryomyces hansenii, Trichosporon pullulans, T. porosum and an unidentified red basidiomycetous yeast.

Cryptococcus haglerorum, sp. nov., an anamorphic basidiomycetous yeast isolated from nests of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens.

A yeast strain (CBS 8902) was isolated from the nest of a leaf-cutting ant and was shown to be related to Cryptococcus humicola. Sequencing of the D1/D2 region of the 26S ribosomal DNA and physiological characterization revealed a separate taxonomic position. A novel species named Cryptococcus haglerorum is proposed to accommodate strain CBS 8902 that assimilates n-hexadecane and several benzene compounds.

Relation between phylogeny and physiology in some ascomycetous yeasts.

The question of whether yeasts with similar physiological properties are closely related has been examined using recently published phylogenetic analyses of 26S domain D1/D2 rDNA nucleotide sequences from all currently recognized ascomycetous yeasts. When apparently unique metabolic pathways are examined, some relationships between physiology and rDNA phylogeny are evident. Most Candida and Pichia species that are able to assimilate methanol as the sole carbon source are in a clade delimited by C.

Trichosporon porosum comb. nov., an anamorphic basidiomycetous yeast inhabiting soil, related to the loubieri/laibachii group of species that assimilate hemicelluloses and phenolic compounds.

Several isolates representing the genus Trichosporon were collected over a 6-year period from soils in The Netherlands. Based on classical growth tests with carbon and nitrogen compounds these were identical. Three of these (CBS 8396, CBS 8397 and CBS 8522) were subjected to molecular analysis of the D1/D2 region of the large subunit of rDNA.

Identification of clinically relevant Trichosporon species.

A dichotomous identification key to pathogenic species of the basisiomycetous genus Trichosporon Behrend is provided. It is based on growth tests with carbon sources not traditionally used in yeast taxonomy, viz. uric acid, ethylamine, L-4-hydroxyproline, tyramine and L-phenylalanine as sources of carbon and nitrogen, and polygalacturonate, quinate, 4-ethylphenol, 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate and orcinol as sole carbon sources.

Identification of yeasts present in sour fermented foods and fodders.

This paper deals with rapid methods for identification of 50 yeast species frequently isolated from foods and fodders that underwent a lactic acid fermentation. However, many yeast species present in olive brine, alpechin, and other olive products were not treated. The methods required for identification include light microscopy, physiological growth tests (ID32C system of BioMérieux), assimilation of nitrate and of ethylamine as sole nitrogen sources, vitamin requirement, and maximum growth temperature.

Occurrence of killer yeasts in leaf-cutting ant nests.

Killer activity was screened in 99 yeast strains isolated from the nests of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens against 6 standard sensitive strains, as well as against each other. Among this yeast community killer activity was widespread since 77 strains (78%) were able to kill or inhibit the growth of at least one standard strain or nest strain. Toxin production was observed in representatives of all the studied genera including Aureobasidium, Rhodotorula, Tremella and Trichosporon, whose killer activity has not yet been described.

Yeasts and fungi in excrements of the sand hill snail, Theba pisana.

Eight microbial species were isolated and identified from excrements of the sand hill snail, Theba pisana, viz. 3 filamentous fungi, 3 basidiomycetous yeasts and 2 yeast-like ascomycetous fungi.

Novel pathway for alcoholic fermentation of delta-gluconolactone in the yeast Saccharomyces bulderi.

Under anaerobic conditions, the yeast Saccharomyces bulderi rapidly ferments delta-gluconolactone to ethanol and carbon dioxide. We propose that a novel pathway for delta-gluconolactone fermentation operates in this yeast. In this pathway, delta-gluconolactone is first reduced to glucose via an NADPH-dependent glucose dehydrogenase (EC 1.

Purification and properties of hydroquinone hydroxylase, a FAD-dependent monooxygenase involved in the catabolism of 4-hydroxybenzoate in Candida parapsilosis CBS604.

The ascomycetous yeast Candida parapsilosis CBS604 catabolizes 4-hydroxybenzoate through the initial formation of hydroquinone (1, 4-dihydroxybenzene). High levels of hydroquinone hydroxylase activity are induced when the yeast is grown on either 4-hydroxybenzoate, 2,4-dihydroxybenzoate, 1,3-dihydroxybenzene or 1, 4-dihydroxybenzene as the sole carbon source. The monooxygenase constitutes up to 5% of the total amount of protein and is purified to apparent homogeneity in three chromatographic steps.

Phylogenetic position and physiology of Cerinosterus cyanescens.

Partial 25S rRNA sequencing of Cerinosterus cyanescens showed it to be a close relative of Microstroma juglandis, a member of the basidiomycetous order Microstromatales. It is unrelated to the generic type species, C. luteoalba, which is a member of the order Dacrymycetales.

Trichosporon veenhuisii sp. nov., an alkane-assimilating anamorphic basidiomycetous yeast.

A morphological and physiological description of an alkane-assimilating anamorphic basidiomycetous yeast species, named Trichosporon veenhuisii, is presented. The ability to assimilate several aliphatic and aromatic compounds as sole source of carbon and energy is reported. The phylogenetic position within the genus, based on nuclear base sequencing of the D1/D2 region of the large subunit of rDNA, is discussed.

Trichosporon guehoae sp.nov., an anamorphic basidiomycetous yeast.

A morphological and physiological description of an anamorphic basidiomycetous yeast species, named Trichosporon guehoae (CBS 8521T), is presented. The ability to assimilate several aliphatic and aromatic compounds as sole source of carbon and energy is reported. The phylogenetic position within the genus, based on nuclear base sequencing of the D1/D2 region of the large subunit of rDNA is discussed.

19F nuclear magnetic resonance as a tool to investigate microbial degradation of fluorophenols to fluorocatechols and fluoromuconates.

A method was developed to study the biodegradation and oxidative biodehalogenation of fluorinated phenols by 19F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Characterization of the 19F NMR spectra of metabolite profiles of a series of fluorophenols, converted by purified phenol hydroxylase, catechol 1,2-dioxygenase, and/or by the yeast-like fungus Exophiala jeanselmei, provided possibilities for identification of the 19F NMR chemical shift values of fluorinated catechol and muconate metabolites. As an example, the 19F NMR method thus defined was used to characterize the time-dependent metabolite profiles of various halophenols in either cell extracts or in incubations with whole cells of E.

Identity and biodegradative abilities of yeasts isolated from plants growing in an arid climate.

Plants harvested in the Canary Islands Lanzarote and Fuerteventura were analyzed for the yeasts inhabiting their surface. Half of the isolates (22 out of 44) were identified as Debaryomyces hansenii. Black ascomycetes, viz.

Hormonema schizolunatum, a new species of dothideaceous black yeasts from phyllosphere.

Two black yeast isolates from plants from the Canary Islands (Spain) are described and illustrated. Absence of Woronin bodies at simple septal pores, local coralloid terminal hyphal cells, indeterminate thallus maturation, the presence of budding cells and local conversion to meristematic growth all indicate a relationship to the Dothideaceae (Dothideales, Ascomycota). Morphological properties were consistent with the genus Hormonema Lagerberg & Melin, as defined by presence of percurrent conidiogenous loci alongside undifferentiated hyphae, and results of PCR-ribotyping supported this classification.

Rhodotorula cresolica sp. nov., a cresol-assimilating yeast species isolated from soil.

A cresol-assimilating yeast strain of a previously undescribed species belonging to the genus Rhodotorula was isolated from soil. The new strain differs from the previously described species of the genus in its pattern of assimilation of carbon and nitrogen compounds, G + C content, and low levels of DNA-DNA-homology. The new species Rhodotorula cresolica is described.