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. Physiological characteristics distinguishing the novel species from some other members of the C. humicola complex are presented. The phylogenetic relationship of these strains to species of the genus Trichosporon Behrend is discussed. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Cryptococcus adeliensis sp. nov., a xylanase producing basidiomycetous yeast from Antarctica

Cryptococcus adeliensis sp. nov. (CBS 8351) is described based on phenotypic characteristics and molecular sequence analysis of the D1/D2 large subunit and internal transcribed spacer regions of the ribosomal DNA. Molecular comparisons include species closely related to Cryptococcus albidus and several species isolated from the Antarctic. C. adeliensis, which has a cold-adapted xylanase, was isolated from Terre Adelie, Antarctica. ATCC 34633, which has a mesophilic xylanase, was identified as Cryptococcus albidosimilis.     

Cryptococcus lacticolor sp. nov. and Rhodotorula oligophaga sp. nov., novel yeasts isolated from the nasal smear microbiota of Queensland koalas kept in Japanese zoological parks

A total of 515 yeast strains were isolated from the nasal smears of Queensland koalas and their breeding environments in Japanese zoological parks between 2005 and 2012. The most frequent species in the basidiomycetous yeast biota isolated from koala nasal passages was Cryptococcus neoformans, followed by Rhodotorula minuta. R. minuta was the most frequent species in the breeding environments, while C. neoformans was rare. Seven strains representing two novel yeast species were identified. Analyses of the 26S rDNA (LSU) D1/D2 domain and nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer region sequences indicated that these strains represent new species with close phylogenetic relationships to Cryptococcus and Rhodotorula. A sexual state was not found for either of these two novel yeasts. Key phenotypic characters confirmed that these strains could be placed in Cryptococcus and Rhodotorula. The names Cryptococcus lacticolor sp. nov. (type strain TIMM 10013^T = JCM 15449^T = CBS 10915^T = DSM 21093^T, DDBJ/EMBL/Genbank Accession No.; AB375774 (ITS) and AB375775 (26S rDNA D1/D2 region), MycoBank ID; MB 802688, Fungal Barcoding Database ID; 3174), and Rhodotorula oligophaga sp. nov. (type strain TIMM 10017^T = JCM 18398^T = CBS 12623^T = DSM 25814^T, DDBJ/EMBL/Genbank Accession No.; AB702967 (ITS) and AB702967 (26S rDNA D1/D2 region), MycoBank ID; MB 802689, Fungal Barcoding Database ID; 3175) are proposed for these new species.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptococcus randhawai</Emphasis> sp. nov<Emphasis Type="Italic">.,</Emphasis> a novel anamorphic basidiomycetous yeast isolated from tree trunk hollow of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ficus religiosa</Emphasis> (peepal tree) from New Delhi,India

A novel anamorphic Cryptococcus species is described, which was isolated in New Delhi (India) from decaying wood of a tree trunk hollow of Ficus religiosa. On the basis of sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domains of the 26S rRNA gene and the internally transcribed spacer (ITS)-1 and ITS-2 region sequences, the isolate belonged to the Cryptococcus albidus cluster (Filobasidiales, Tremellomycetes) and was closely related to Cryptococcus saitoi, Cryptococcus cerealis and Cryptococcus friedmannii with 98% sequence identity. Phenotypically, the species differed from C. saitoi with respect to growth temperature (up to 37^oC), presence of a thin capsule, ability to grow in the absence of vitamins, and inability to assimilate citrate and ethylamine. With respect to C. friedmannii, it differed in growth temperature, ability to assimilate lactose, raffinose, l-rhamnose, myo-inositol, and inability to utilize citrate. Furthermore, our isolate also differed from C. cerealis in growth temperature, presence of capsule and inability to assimilate l-sorbose. In view of the above phenotypic differences and unique rDNA sequences, we consider that our isolate represents a new species of Cryptococcus, and therefore, a new species, Cryptococcus randhawai is proposed for this taxon. The type strain J11/2002 has been deposited in the culture collection of the Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (CBS10160) and CABI Biosciences (IMI 393306).     

Cryptococcus foliicola sp. nov. and Cryptococcus taibaiensis sp. nov., novel basidiomycetous yeast species from plant leaves

A molecular taxonomic investigation performed on basidiomycetous yeast strains isolated from plant leaves collected in two areas of China revealed two novel species, Cryptococcus foliicola sp. nov. (type strain HS 23.3(T) = AS 2.2471(T) = CBS 9920(T)) and Cryptococcus taibaiensis sp. nov. (type strain ST 7.9(T) = AS 2.2444(T) = CBS 9919(T)), among the non ballistoconidium-forming strains producing cream-colored colonies. These new species differed markedly from closely related species in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 26S rRNA D1/D2 region sequences. They clustered in a strongly supported clade represented by Cryptococcus victoriae in the Tremellales group in the phylogenetic trees drawn from ITS and D1/D2 sequences.     

Cryptococcus nanyangensis sp. nov., A New Basidiomycetous Yeast Isolated from the Gut of Wood-Boring Larvae

Two strains of a novel basidiomycetous yeast species were isolated from the gut of wood-boring larvae collected in the Baotianman Nature Reserve, the central China. Sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions showed that these yeasts belong to the Bulleromyces clade and formed a cluster together with eleven undescribed Cryptococcus species. The novel species differed from its closest known species, Cryptococcus rajasthanensis, by 3.3 % divergence (15 substitutions and 6 gaps over 630 bases) in the D1/D2 domains, and by 13.4 % divergence (41 substitutions and 27 gaps over 508 bases) in the ITS regions. Physiologically, the fermentation of glucose, galactose, sucrose, trehalose, and raffinose in Durham tubes was observed for the strains of this new yeast. Based on the phenotypical and molecular characteristics presented, the two strains are proposed as a new species, Cryptococcus nanyangensis sp. nov., with the type strain KCY-1^T (=CICC 1976^T = CBS 12474^T).     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ogataea saltuana</Emphasis> sp. nov., a novel methanol-assimilating yeast species

Four ascosporulating strains of an undescribed methanol-assimilating yeast species were isolated from forest habitats in Hungary. Three were recovered from rotten wood and one from leaves of a sessile oak (Quercus petraea). An additional isolate of the undescribed species sharing similar phenotypic characters with the above-noted strains was recovered from the gut of an unidentified beetle collected from under the bark of a coniferous tree in Bulgaria. A closely related, but somewhat divergent strain was recovered from insect frass in a Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) collected in New Mexico, USA. Analysis of the D1/D2 sequences of the LSU rRNA gene placed the new species in the Ogataea clade. The ITS and the D1/D2 LSU sequences of the rRNA gene repeats were compared for the above-noted strains and that of the type strain of Ogataea zsoltii, the closest neighbour among currently recognized Ogataea species. Their relatedness was investigated by parsimony network analysis as well. As a result of the sequence analysis, it was concluded that the six strains isolated from tree associated habitats represent a single new yeast species. Ogataea saltuana sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate these strains. The type strain NCAIM Y.01833^T (CBS 10795^T, NRRL Y-48448^T) was recovered from rotten wood of Scotch pine (Pinus silvestris) in Hungary. The GenBank accession number for the D1/D2 domain nuclear large subunit rRNA gene sequence of strain NCAIM Y.01833^T (CBS 10795^T, NRRL Y-48448^T) is EU327033. The MycoBank number of the new species is MB 519966.     

Asterotremella gen. nov. albida, an anamorphic tremelloid yeast isolated from the agarics Asterophora lycoperdoides and Asterophora parasitica

Using a genotypic approach (PCR-fingerprinting, DNA/DNA reassociation, partial sequences of the 26S rDNA gene, complete sequences of the 18S rDNA gene, and sequences of the internal transcribed spacers) five tremelloid yeast isolates from the agarics Asterophora lycoperdoides and A. parasitica were shown to be conspecific with Cryptococcus ramirezgomezianus. It was not possible to distinguish the yeast strains from A. lycoperdoides and A. parasitica using sequences from the intergenic spacer (IGS1). Phylogeny based on the 26S (D1/D2-domain), ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and complete 18S rDNA demonstrated that C. ramirezgomezianus is closely related to several additional Cryptococcus species (C. humicola, C. longus, C. musci, C. pseudolongus) within the Trichosporonales. A new genus, Asterotremella, and a new family, Asterotremellaceae were introduced for Cryptococcus species clustering within the Trichosporonales having a ubiquinone Q-9. Cryptococcus ramirezgomezianus is a synonym of Asterotremella albida.     

Cryptococcus festucosus sp. nov. a new hymenomycetous yeast in the Holtermannia clade

Five yeast strains belonging to the genus Cryptococcus Vuillemin were isolated from steppe plants and turf collected in the Prioksko-terrasny biosphere reserve (Moscow region, Russia). Sequence analyses of the D1/D2 domains of the 26S rDNA and of the internal transcribed spacer region revealed that these yeast strains and strain CBS 8016 have almost identical sequences and belong to the Holtermannia clade of the Tremellomycetidae (Basidiomycota, Hymenomycetes). A novel species named Cryptococcus festucosus (type strain VKM Y-2930) is proposed to accommodate these strains. Physiological characteristics and mycocin sensitivity patterns distinguishing Cryptococcus festucosus from the other species of this clade are presented.     

Yarrowia porcina sp. nov. and Yarrowia bubula f.a. sp. nov., two yeast species from meat and river sediment

Eleven yeast strains representing two hitherto undescribed species were isolated from different kinds of meat samples in Hungary and one from the sediment of a tropical freshwater river in Southeastern Brazil. The analysis of the sequences of their large subunit rRNA gene D1/D2 domain and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions placed the two new species in the Yarrowia clade. Some of the seven strains representing the first new species can mate and give rise to asci and form ascospores embedded in capsular material, which qualifies it as the third teleomorph species of the Yarrowia clade. The name Yarrowia porcina sp. nov. (type strain: NCAIM Y.02100^T = CBS 12935^T = NRRL Y-63669^T, allotype strain UFMG-RD131^A = CBS 12932^A) is proposed for this new yeast species, which, based on physiological characters, is indistinguishable from Yarrowia lipolytica and some other species of the genus. Considerable intraspecific variability was detected among the sequences of the large subunit rRNA gene D1/D2 domains of the seven strains. The variability among the D1/D2 sequences exceeded the divergence observed among the ITS sequences and in some cases more than 1 % substitution among the D1/D2 sequences was detected. The conspecificity of these strains was supported by the low (0–3 substitutions) sequence divergence among their ITS sequences, the result of a parsimony network analysis utilizing the concatenated ITS and D1/D2 sequences and also by the fingerprint patterns generated by microsatellite primed PCR. No ascospore formation was observed in the group of the other five strains representing the second new species. These strains shared identical D1/D2 and ITS sequences. Yarrowia bubula f.a., sp. nov. (type strain: NCAIM Y.01998^T = CBS 12934^T = NRRL Y-63668^T) is proposed to accommodate these strains.     

Ultrastructural and chemotaxonomic analysis of a xylanolytic strain of Cryptococcus adeliensis isolated from sheep droppings in Spain

Cryptococcus adeliensis was initially described as a psycrophilic species containing a single strain CBS 8351^T isolated from decayed algae in Terre Adelie (Antartida). Later, a second strain of this species was isolated from an immunosuppressed patient affected by leukaemia in Germany and recently several strains from this species have been found in human patients and pigeon droppings of the same country. In this study, we isolated from sheep droppings in Spain a xylanolytic strain named LEVX01 that was phenotypically related to the strain CBS 8351^T and showed a 100% similarity in the D1/D2 domain and 5.8S-ITS region sequences with respect to the remaining described strains of C. adeliensis. These findings suggest that this species has a wide geographical distribution and that the animal faeces are a common habitat for C. adeliensis. The chemotaxonomic analyses showed the absence of detectable amounts of xylose in the cell walls of the strains LEVX01 and CBS8351^T in contrast to other Cryptococcus species. Interestingly, the ultrastructural study showed the presence of fimbriae in these two strains that could be involved in the attachment to the host cells and, as occurs in Candida albicans, they could also be a pathogenicity factor for the man.     

ALEXANDRIUM TAMUTUM SP. NOV. (DINOPHYCEAE): A NEW NONTOXIC SPECIES IN THE GENUS ALEXANDRIUM1

A new species of the dinoflagellate genus Alexandrium, A. tamutum sp. nov., is described based on the results of morphological and phylogenetic studies carried out on strains isolated from two sites in the Mediterranean Sea: the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea) and the Gulf of Naples (central Tyrrhenian Sea). Vegetative cells were examined in LM and SEM, and resting cysts were obtained by crossing strains of opposite mating type. Alexandrium tamutum is a small‐sized species, resembling A. minutum in its small size, the rounded‐elliptical shape and the morphology of its cyst. The main diagnostic character of the new species is a relatively wide and large sixth precingular plate (6″), whereas that of A. minutum is much narrower and smaller. Contrary to A. minutum, A. tamutum strains did not produce paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins. Phylogenies inferred from the nuclear small subunit rDNA and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit nuclear rDNA of five strains of A. tamutum and numerous strains of other Alexandrium species showed that A. tamutum strains clustered in a well‐supported clade, distinct from A. minutum.     

Cryptococcus silvicola nov. sp. from nature reserves of Russia and Portugal

Nitrate-positive strains of a filobasidiaceous anamorphic yeast related to Cryptococcus cylindricus were isolated from forest litter in a Russian nature reserve and from a lichen in Portuguese one. Mycocinotyping and rDNA sequence analysis revealed that the strains represent a novel species, for which the name Cryptococcus silvicola (type strain VKM Y-2939=CBS 10099) is proposed. An erratum to this article can be found at     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Metschnikowia viticola</Emphasis> sp. nov., a new yeast species from grape

Two yeast strains, producing needle-shaped ascospores under suitable conditions, were isolated from grapes grown in Hungary. Based on these two strains, Metschnikowia viticola (type strain NCAIM Y.01705, CBS 9950, JCM 12561) is proposed as a new yeast species. Considering its phenotypic features, the restriction fragment patterns of 18S rDNA and the sequence of the D1/D2 domain of 26S rDNA, the proposed new species is closely related to Candida kofuensis.     

The basidiomycetous yeast Rhodotorula yarrowii comb. nov

Sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rDNA of Cryptococcus yarrowii (CBS 7417) indicates that this species does not belong to the hymenomycetous fungi, but instead is of urediniomycetous affinity. Therefore, the name change Rhodotorula yarrowii comb. nov. is proposed. The cell wall of the species contains xylose, a character considered by most authors to indicate fungi of hymenomycetous affinity. However, our results show that xylose may occur in minor amounts in the cell walls of urediniomycetous fungi. A high mannose content of the cell walls may be a more reliable character for urediniomycetous yeasts.     

Intraspecific nucleotide divergence in Saccharomycodes ludwigii,and proposal of Saccharomycodes pseudoludwigii sp. nov,a new apiculate yeast isolated from China

The six synonyms currently accepted under Saccharomycodes ludwigii were investigated for by phenotypic properties, however, the sequence diversity of the rRNA and protein coding genes have not yet been determined. Nine strains including the type strains of synonyms of S. ludwigii deposited in the CBS yeast collection, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands, were analyzed using a multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) approach that included sequences of 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA), the D1/D2 domains of the 26S rRNA, the ITS region (including the 5.8S rRNA) and fragments of genes encoding the largest subunit of the RNA polymerase II (RPB1 and RPB2) and translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1). Our results showed that the nine strains have identical D1/D2, 18S and RPB2 sequences and similar ITS, RPB1 and TEF1 sequences, which indicated that they are conspecific. In addition, a novel species of Saccharomycodes, S. pseudoludwigii sp. nov. (type CGMCC 2.4526 ^T) that was isolated from fruit and tree bark in China, is proposed. The MycoBank number of this new species is MB 811,650.

     

New types of acetate-oxidizing,sulfate-reducing Desulfobacter species,D. hydrogenophilus sp. nov., D. latus sp. nov., and D. curvatus sp. nov.

Sulfate-reducing bacteria with oval to rod-shaped cells (strains AcRS1, AcRS2) and vibrio-shaped cells (strains AcRM3, AcRM4, AcRM5) differing by size were isolated from anaerobic marine sediment with acetate as the only electron donor. A vibrio-shaped type (strain AcKo) was also isolated from freshwater sediment. Two strains (AcRS1, AcRM3) used ethanol and pyruvate in addition to acetate, and one strain (AcRS1) grew autotrophically with H₂, sulfate and CO₂. Higher fatty acids or lactate were never utilized. All isolates were able to grow in ammonia-free medium in the presence of N₂. Nitrogenase activity under such conditions was demonstrated by the acetylene reduction test. The facultatively lithoautotrophic strain (AcRS1), a strain (AcRS2) with unusually large cells (2×5 m), and a vibrio-shaped strain (AcRM3) are described as new Desulfobacter species, D. hydrogenophilus, D. latus, and D. curvatus, respectively.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Kazachstania wufongensis</Emphasis> sp. nov., an ascosporogenous yeast isolated from soil in Taiwan

A new yeast species, Kazachstania wufongensis, is proposed in this paper based on six strains isolated from soil in Taiwan. The species may produce one to four ellipsoidal ascospores in each ascus, directly transformed from diploid cells. Genus assignment and distinction of the species from other recognized species of Kazachstania is based on morphological and physiological characteristics, and on phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene. Sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domains of the LSU rRNA gene reveals that K. wufongensis is a member of the Kazachstania exigua complex, and its phylogenetically closest relatives are K. exigua, K. barnettii, K. bulderi, and K. turicensis. The species can be further differentiated from the other phylogenetically related species based on internal transcribed spacer sequence and electrophoretic karyotype. Therefore, the new species Kazachstania wufongensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of this new species, which was isolated from forest soil in Wufong, Hsinchu, Taiwan, is FN21S03^T (=CBS 10886^T = BCRC 23138^T).     

Cryptococcus stepposus,a new filobasidiaceous yeast species found in the Prioksko-terrasny biosphere reserve in Russia

Mycocinotyping of cryptococci from the Prioksko-terrasny reserve (Russia) has revealed three strains that have a unique mycocin-sensitivity profile. Sequencing results of the D1/D2 domain of the 26S rDNA and of the complete ITS region placed them in the Floriforme clade of the Filobasidiales lineage (Hymenomycetes). The three strains had identical sequences, which differed from those of known Filobasidium and Cryptococcus species. A novel species named Cryptococcus stepposus (type strain VKM Y-2918) is proposed to accommodate these isolates. Physiological characteristics distinguishing the novel species from other Cryptococcus species in the Floriforme clade are presented.