Kurtzmanomyces insolitus sp. nov., a new anamorphic heterobasidiomycetous yeast species

A new anamorphic heterobasidiomycetous yeast species, Kurtzmanomyces insolitus, is described using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The new species has the salient characteristics of the genus Kurtzmanomyces and, additionally, the ability to produce ballistoconidia. Data derived from comparative micromorphological studies, physiological characterisation, ultrastructure and nucleic acid analyses led to assigning the new species to Kurtzmanomyces rather than to the currently accepted genera of ballistoconidia-forming fungi. An emendation of the genus Kurtzmanomyces is proposed to allow the inclusion of the new species.     

Mycogloea nipponica - the first known teleomorph in the heterobasidiomycetous yeast genus Kurtzmanomyces

A culture was obtained from a spore print of a basidiocarp of Mycogloea nipponica collected in Taiwan. A yeast stage and basidia identical to those of M. nipponica developed in laboratory media. The Taiwanese specimen of M. nipponica and its yeast anamorph were characterised in the present study. Comparative morphological, molecular, and ultrastructural studies indicated that the yeast stage can be assigned to the genus Kurtzmanomyces. The revealed connection between the sexual species Mycogloea nipponica and the asexual genus Kurtzmanomyces demonstrates the importance of anamorphic characteristics in the modern systematics of heterobasidiomycetous fungi. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Accumulation of glycerol by the heterobasidiomycetous yeast Rhodosporidium sphaerocarpum in response to external hypertonicity due to NaCl

Abstract The heterobasidiomycetous yeast Rhodosporidium sphaerocarpum isolated from the Antarctic Ocean and a saltpan, showed marked tolerance to high concentrations of NaCl in the growth medium. This yeast accumulated glycerol as a major osmoregulator, as well as Na⁺ and Cl⁻, in response to changes in the concentration of NaCl in the external medium. The low levels of another cellular polyol, xylitol, did not respond to changes in the external medium.     

Debaryomyces mycophilus sp. nov., a siderophore-dependent yeast isolated from woodlice

Four strains of an ascogenous yeast were isolated from the guts of the woodlice species Armadillidium vulgare (Latreille). This yeast differed from all known yeasts by its inability to grow in culture without the presence of a metabolite produced by some common soil fungi such as Cladosporium cladosporioides, Aspergillus alliaceus, and Penicillium spp. Phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rDNA and 26S rDNA (domain D1/D2) sequences indicated that the yeast represents a new taxon in the genus Debaryomyces. The new species Debaryomyces mycophilus is thus proposed. It was, furthermore, shown that the fungal metabolite necessary for growth of D. mycophilus did not provide the yeast with carbon, nitrogen or vitamins. The active compound was partially purified and it was shown that it is a siderophore used by the yeast as a source of iron. The addition of ferrichrome or high concentrations of FeCl(3) to growth media replaced the obligate dependence on a fungal metabolite. Symbiosis among fungi, based on the availability and utilization of iron, is an aspect of mycology that has not previously been recognized. The addition of chelated iron to isolation media could lead to the discovery of many unknown yeasts and fungi.     

Polyphasic taxonomy of the basidiomycetous yeast genus Rhodotorula: Rh. glutinis sensu stricto and Rh. dairenensis comb. nov

The phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity of the basidiomycetous yeast species Rhodotorula glutinis was investigated in a group of 109 isolates. A polyphasic taxonomic approach was followed which included PCR fingerprinting, determination of sexual compatibility, 26S and ITS rDNA sequence analysis, DNA-DNA reassociation experiments and reassessment of micromorphological and physiological attributes. The relationships with species of the teleomorphic genus Rhodosporidium were studied and isolates previously identified as Rh. glutinis were found to belong to Rhodosporidium babjevae, Rhodosporidium diobovatum and Rhodosporidium sphaerocarpum. Other isolates included in the study were found to belong to Rh. glutinis var. dairenensis, which is elevated to the species level, or to undescribed species. The concept of Rh. glutinis sensu stricto is proposed due to the close phenetic and phylogenetic proximity detected for Rh. glutinis, Rhodotorula graminis and R. babjevae.     

Agarics, clavarioid and some heterobasidiomycetous fungi from Northern Thailand

51 species of agaricoid, clavarioid, and heterobasidiomycetous fungi are recorded from Thailand. 40 species are new to the area. Hohenbuehelia panelloides Hoiland sp. nov. is described and Leccinum intusrubens (Corner) Hoiland comb. nov. is proposed. Comments are given on vernacular names.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodotorula taiwanensis</Emphasis> sp. nov., a novel yeast species from a plant in Taiwan

A novel anamorphic yeast strain, A1-01^T, belonging to the genus Rhodotorula was isolated from a plant in Taiwan and analysed morphologically, physiologically and phylogenetically. Neither ballistoconidia nor sexual reproduction was observed. Sequence analysis of the 26S rRNA gene and the ITS region indicate that Rhodosporidium sphaerocarpum is the most closely related species, with 14 and 24 nucleotide substitutions, respectively. The novel species differed physiologically from R. sphaerocarpum in its ability to assimilate ethylamine and cadaverine, its inability to assimilate ethanol and nitrite. From these comparative analyses, the following novel yeast species is proposed: Rhodotorula taiwanensis sp. nov. with the type strain of A1-01^T (BCRC 23118^T = CBS 11729^T).     

Systematic study of basidiomycetous yeasts - evaluation of the ITS regions of rDNA to delimit species of the genus Rhodosporidium

Nucleotide sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were determined to establish the guidelines for species identification in the genus Rhodosporidium. Forty-two strains of nine species of the genus Rhodosporidium were used for ITS (ITS1 and ITS2) analysis. Intraspecific length polymorphisms and sequence variations were observed within R. azoricum, R. diobovatum, R. paludigenum, R. sphaerocarpum and R. toruloides, while no variation was observed within R. babjevae and R. kratochvilovae. Based on comparison of the levels of intraspecific and interspecific sequence similarity, strains with identical sequences were considered to represent a single species and strains with 92% or lower similarity of ITS sequences were considered to be distinct species in the genus Rhodosporidium.     

Metschnikowia hawaiiensis sp. nov., a heterothallic haploid yeast from Hawaiian morning glory and associated drosophilids

A new haploid, heterothallic yeast species was isolated repeatedly from morning glory (Ipomoea acuminata) flowers and from two associated drosophilid species, Scaptomyza calliginosa and Drosophila floricola, in a Hawaiian kipuka. Haploid strains of this organism multiply asexually by budding and, under nutrient deprivation, by the formation of long germ tubes that develop into branching true mycelia. Mating compatibility is controlled by two alleles of a single locus. Plasmogamy between compatible strains is followed by the development of very large elongate asci bearing vestiges of the zygotes and the formation in each ascus of two unusually large aciculate ascospores similar to those formed by members of the genus Metschnikowia. Membership in the genus Metschnikowia is supported by the physiological profile of the yeast, which is typical of the genus but not identical to the profile of any previously described species. The name Metschnikowia hawaiiensis is proposed to emphasize the geographic origin of the new species, not its habitat, which has not been determined precisely. The holotype strain of M. hawaiiensis is strain UWO(PS) 87-2167.2 (= ATCC 76059 = CBS 7432), and the isotype strain is strain UWO(PS) 87-2203.2 (= ATCC 76058 = CBS 7433).     

A new species of psychrophilic basidiomycetes yeast Leucosporidium fasciculatum sp. Nov

A psychrophilic yeast with a basidiomycetous developmental cycle and properties corresponding to the genus Leucosporidium Fell et al. was isolated from the fruiting body of the edible spring mushroom Gyromitra esculenta Pers. picked near Moscow. However, the isolate differed from all Leucosporidium species described to date in a number of characteristics. The results of the study of the developmental cycle and of the cultural, morphological, physiological, and biochemical properties of the new isolate, strain KBP Y-3696, allow it to be assigned to a new species of the genus Leucosporidium.     

Linocarpon angustatum sp. nov., andNeolinocarpon nypicola sp. nov. from petioles ofNypa fruticans, and a list of fungi from aerial parts of this host

Two new ascomycetes,Linocarpon angustatum sp. nov. andNeolinocarpon nypicola sp. nov., are described from petioles ofNypa fruticans in Malaysia.Linocarpon angustatum differs from species in the genus in having needle-shaped ascospores.Neolinocarpon nypicola differs from species in the genus in having filiform ascospores which gradually taper towards the ends, and ascomata developing within well developed stromata. These new species are compared with existing species and illustrated with interference light micrographs. The fungi known from aerial parts ofNypa fruticans are listed.     

Ferroplasma cupricumulans sp. nov., a novel moderately thermophilic, acidophilic archaeon isolated from an industrial-scale chalcocite bioleach heap

A new species of Archaea was isolated from an industrial mineral sulphide bioleach heap. Strain BH2, a non-motile pleomorphic coccus, was capable of chemomixotrophic growth on ferrous sulphate and yeast extract. Growth was not supported in the absence of yeast extract. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene showed that strain BH2 was most closely related to the species Ferroplasma acidiphilum; however, it showed only 95% sequence similarity with this species. Strain BH2 had a temperature optimum of 53.6°C and a temperature range for growth between 22 and 63°C. Thus, it is the first moderately thermophilic member of the genus Ferroplasma. The optimum pH for the growth of the strain occurred between pH 1.0 and 1.2 and the lowest pH at which growth was observed was 0.4. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and other physiological characteristics, strain BH2 constitutes a new species within the genus Ferroplasma. The name Ferroplasma cupricumulans is proposed for the new species and strain BH2 (DSM 16651) is proposed as the type strain.     

Dekkera anomala sp. nov., the teleomorph of Brettanomyces anomalus,recovered from spoiled soft drinks

A new ascogenous yeast species, Dekkera anomala, is described. The strains studied were isolated from spoiled soft drinks. This species differs morphologically and physiologically from the species presently accepted in the genus Dekkera by the formation of blastese and the ability to ferment lactose.