Phylogenetic heterogeneity of the genus Williopsis as revealed by 18S rRNA gene sequences

Evaluation of Beer Fermentation with a Novel Yeast Williopsis saturnus

The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential of a novel yeast Williopsis saturnus var. mrakii NCYC 500 to produce fruity beer. Fermentation performance of W. mrakii and beer volatile composition were compared against that fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae Safale US-05. ^oBrix, sugar and pH differed significantly between the two types of beer. A total of 8 alcohols, 11 acids, 41 esters, 9 aldehydes, 8 ketones, 21 terpenes and terpenoids, 5 Maillard reaction products and 2 volatile phenolic compounds were detected. Yeast strain Safale US-05 was more capable of producing a wider range of ethyl and other esters, while yeast strain NCYC 500 produced significantly higher amounts of acetate esters. Strain NCYC 500 retained more terpenes and terpenoids, suggesting that the resultant beer could possess more of the aromatic hint of hops. This study showed that W. saturnus var. mrakii NCYC 500 could ferment wort to produce low-alcohol beer with higher levels of acetate esters, terpenes and terpenoids than yeast S. cerevisiae Safale US-05.

Molecular systematics of Lachancea yeasts

This work presents the results of molecular-genetic investigation of a new yeast genus, Lachancea Kurtzman (2003). Analysis of rRNA sequences and molecular karyotyping have shown genetic homogeneity of the genus Lachancea. Yeasts of this genus have an identical haploid number of chromosomes equal to eight, whereas limiting chromosome sizes significantly differ in various species. The largest range of chromosome bands was registered in L. cidri strains (400-2800 kb), while the smallest was found in L. waltii (1400-2800 kb). The intra- and interspecies polymorphism of Lachancea chromosomes is discussed.

Candida asparagi sp. nov., Candida diospyri sp. nov. and Candida qinlingensis sp. nov., novel anamorphic, ascomycetous yeast species

Among ascomycetous yeasts that were isolated from several nature reserve areas in China, three anamorphic strains isolated from soil (QL 5-5T) and fruit (QL 21-2T and SN 15-1T) were revealed, by conventional characterization and molecular phylogenetic analysis based on internal transcribed spacer and large subunit (26S) rRNA gene D1/D2 region sequencing, to represent three novel species in the genus Candida. Candida qinlingensis sp. nov. (type strain, QL 5-5T=AS 2.2524T=CBS 9768T) was related closely to a teleomorphic species, Williopsis pratensis. The close relatives of Candida diospyri sp. nov. (type strain, QL 21-2T=AS 2.2525T=CBS 9769T) are Candida friedrichii and Candida membranifaciens. Candida asparagi sp. nov. (type strain, SN 15-1T=AS 2.2526T=CBS 9770T) forms a clade with Candida fructus.

A phylogenetic study of ubiquinone-7 species of the genus Candida based on 18S ribosomal DNA sequence divergence

To clarify phylogenetic relationships among ubiquinone 7 (Q7)-forming species of the genus Candida, we analyzed the nearly complete sequences of 18S ribosomal RNA genes (18S rDNAs) from fifty strains (including 46 type strains) of Candida species, and from 8 type strains of species/varieties of the genera Issatchenkia, Pichia and Saturnispora. Q7-forming Candida species were divided into three major groups (Group I, II, and III) and were phylogenetically distant from a group that includes the type species of the genus Candida. Group I included four clusters with basal branches that were weakly supported. The first cluster comprised C. vartiovaarae, C. maritima, C. utilis, C. freyschussii, C. odintsovae, C. melinii, C. quercuum, Williopsis saturnus var. saturnus, and W. mucosa. The second cluster comprised C. norvegica, C. montana, C. stellimalicola, C. solani, C. berthetii, and C. dendrica. Williopsis pratensis, W. californica, Pichia opuntiae and 2 related species, P. amethionina (two varieties), and P. caribaea were also included in this cluster. The third cluster comprised C. pelliculosa (anamorph of P. anomala), C. nitrativorans, and C. silvicultrix. The fourth cluster comprised C. wickerhamii and C. peltata, which were placed in the P. holstii - C. ernobii clade with Q8-containing species. Group II comprised C. pignaliae, C. nemodendra, C. methanolovescens, C. maris, C. sonorensis, C. pini, C. llanquihuensis, C. cariosilignicola, C. ovalis, C. succiphila (including its two synonyms), C. methanosorbosa, C. nitratophila, C. nanaspora, C. boidinii (including its two synonyms), W. salicorniae, and P. methanolica. Group III was composed of four clusters with strong bootstrap support. The first cluster comprised C. valida (anamorph of P. membranifaciens), C. ethanolica, C. pseudolambica, C. citrea, C. inconspicua, C. norvegensis, C. rugopelliculosa, and C. lambica. Three species and two varieties of the genus Issatchenkia were also included in this cluster. The second cluster comprised C. diversa, C. silvae, 4 Saturnispora species, and P. besseyi. The third comprised C. sorboxylosa, and the fourth comprised C. vini. Based on this 18S rDNA sequence analysis, it is evident that Q7-forming Candida species and the genera Pichia and Williopsis are polyphyletic. The genus Issatchenkia is suggested to be congeneric with the genus Pichia. The genus Saturnispora is phylogenetically definable.

Immuno-crossreactivity of an anti-Pichia anomala killer toxin monoclonal antibody with a Williopsis saturnus var. mrakii killer toxin

A monoclonal antibody (mAbKT4), produced against the Pichia anomala ATCC 96603 killer toxin (PaKT) was used to detect the toxin (WmKT) produced by Williopsis saturnus var. mrakii MUCL 41968 which inhibits the growth of a PaKT-sensitive P. anomala strain MUCL 41969. Immunofluorescence studies revealed that mAbKT4 specifically labels the surface of P. anomala and W. saturnus var. mrakii, suggesting that both taxa secrete a killer toxin bearing a common epitope. Immunoblot analyses of concentrated supernatants from P. anomala and W. saturnus var. mrakii cultures showed that in both taxa mAbKT4 reacts with high molecular weight secreted proteins ranging 85-200 kDa. However, immunoblot experiments showed that the molecular weights of PaKT and WmKT are quite different, indicating that the two toxins are related but not identical molecules.

Sequencing as a tool in yeast molecular taxonomy

The literature on sequencing as a tool for yeast molecular taxonomy is reviewed. Ribosomal DNA has been preferred for sequencing over other molecules such as mitochondrial DNA, and a large database is now available. rDNA consists of regions that evolve at different rates, allowing comparison of different levels of relationship among yeasts. Sequences of the 18S rDNA and the 25S rDNA have been largely used for yeast systematics and phylogeny, but the search for regions with increased resolving power has led to the study of the spacer regions of the rDNA. Few studies are concerned with signature sequences.

A phylogenetic study of ubiquinone Q-8 species of the genera Candida, Pichia, and Citeromyces based on 18S ribosomal DNA sequence divergence

To clarify phylogenetic relationships among species of the anamorphic ascomycetous genus Candida with ubiquinone Q-8, we determined complete sequences of 18S ribosomal RNA genes (18S rDNAs) from the type strains of 20 species of the genus Candida and 7 of the teleomorphic ascomycetous genera Pichia and Citeromyces, which have Q-8 as the major ubiquinone. Q-8-forming Candida species were divided into six clusters and were phylogenetically distant from a group of Candida species that included the type species of the genus. One Q-8-forming species from each of the genera Pichia, Citeromyces, or Clavispora was included in five of six clusters. Cluster 1 comprised C. ishiwadae, C. ernobii, C. karawaiewii, C. anatomiae, C. populi, and Pichia holstii. Cluster 2 comprised C. globosa and its teleomorph, Citeromyces matritensis. Cluster 3 comprised C. molischiana and Pichia capsulata. Cluster 4 comprised C. silvanorum, C. sequanensis, C. fennica, C. entomophila, C. homilentoma, C. rhagii, C. gotoi, and Pichia burtonii. Cluster 5 comprised C. fructus, C. musae, and C. lusitaniae (anamorph of Clavispora lusitaniae). Cluster 6 comprised C. stellata, C. lactiscondensi, C. galacta, and C. incommunis and was a heterogeneous group with large interspecific divergence. Pichia pastoris was quite divergent and phylogenetically distant from other Pichia species examined. Pichia methanolica and its synonym, P. cellobiosa, which have both Q-7 and Q-8 as major ubiquinones, were closely associated with Q-7-forming Williopsis salicorniae. Based on this comparative analysis of 18S rDNA sequences, it is evident that Q-8 Candida species and Q-8 Pichia species are polyphyletic.

Identification of medically relevant Trichosporon species based on sequences of internal transcribed spacer regions and construction of a database for Trichosporon identification

The nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 and 2 regions in the rRNA gene were determined by directly sequencing PCR-amplified fragments for all of the species (17 species and five varieties) in the genus Trichosporon. Comparative sequence analysis suggests that six medically relevant species, T. asahii, T. asteroides, T. cutaneum, T. inkin, T. mucoides, and T. ovoides, can be readily identified by their ITS sequences. In addition, the sequence analysis showed that conspecific strains have fewer than 1% nucleotide differences in the ITS 1 and 2 regions overall. Molecular phylogenetic trees are also presented.