On the cell wall composition ofSaccharomycopsis guttulata

Summary Cells ofSaccharomycopsis guttulata were ruptured by sonic oscillation and the resulting cell walls were purified by washing and centrifugation. The walls contained 43.7% carbohydrate (expressed as glucose), 39.6% protein and a trace of chitin. Paper chromatography of hydrolyzed cell walls showed that glucose and an unknown reducing compound make up the bulk of the carbohydrate fraction. Mannose and glucosamine were present in small amounts. The cell wall composition ofS. guttulata appears to differ considerably from that ofS. cerevisiae.     

Effect of methionine on the growth and morphogenesis ofSaccharomycopsis fibuligera in defined medium

Summary The growth ofSaccharomycopsis fibuligera on defined media has been investigated. Growth on a minimal medium was stimulated by the addition of methionine but not by the addition of norleucine or other amino acids including cysteine. Growth in the presence of methionine produced pseudomycelium rather than the true mycelium which is produced during growth on complex media A requirement for methionine for growth and pseudomycelium formation inS. fibuligera has been demonstrated.     

Taxonomy of Haplosporangium parvum

Summary A strain ofHaplosporangium parvum has been isolated from Italian soil. It has been comparatively studied with six North American and a Korean strain. Two American and the Italian strains are thermophilic (opt. about 35° C) while the other four grow better at temperatures around 20° C.The assimilation of nitrogen sources has been comparatively studied. In addition to peptoneH. parvum metabolizes urea and most aminoacids, whileH. bisporale assimilates peptone, leucine, alanine, glutamic acid and proline only. On the basis of N assimilation and thermophily, a key of the studied strain is established.A comparison ofH. bisporale withH. parvum, confirmed that the former species is a Phycomycete, while the latter is a Moniliaceous, aleuriosporic fungus. All the strains are feebly pathogenic, but the virulence of the Italian soil isolate is equal to that of the most virulent strains isolated from animal lungs (Alberta, Canada).The taxonomy ofH. parvum has been studied in relation to the more or less allied generaAleurisma, Glenosporella, Geomyces andStaphylotrichum.It is concluded thatH. parvum may be better classified as a new genus, and the monotypic genusEmmonsia withE. parva (Emm. etAshb.) n. comb. is proposed, although the entire group of aleuriosporaceous fungi needs revision.     

The yeast genus Saccharomycopsis Schiönning

In order to eliminate the confusion resulting from the homonymsSaccharomycopsis Schiönning andSaccharomycopsis Guilliermond and to eliminate the usage of the nameEndomycopsis which has been perpetuated contrary to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, the authors in this article outline the history of the speciesSaccharomycopsis capsularis Schiönning andSaccharomycopsis guttulata (Robin)Schiönning and give their reasons for proposing the nameCyniclomyces nom. nov. for the genus to which the second species is assigned, a step which permits the use of the generic nameSaccharomycopsis Schiönning to designate the genus currently cited asEndomycopsis.

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Zusammenfassung Um Unklarheiten, herrührend von den HomonymenSaccharomycopsis Schiönning undSaccharomycopsis Guilliermond, zu beseitigen und um den fortgesetzten Gebrauch der BezeichnungEndomycopsis, welche im Gegensatz zum Internationalen Code der botanischen Nomenklatur steht, auszuschliessen, haben die Autoren dieses Artikels die Geschichte der ArtenSaccharomycopsis capsularis Schiönning undSaccharomycopsis guttulata (Robin)Schiönning dargelegt und ihre Gründe dafür angegeben, den NamenCyniclomyces nom. nov. für die Gattung zu gebrauchen, zu dem die zweite Art zugeteilt wird.Dieser Schritt würde den Gebrauch des GattungsnamenSaccharomycopsis Schiönning für die Gattung, die gegenwärtig alsEndymycopsis zitiert wird, zulassen.

     

On the phylogenetic relationship between Lipomyces and Cryptococcus

Summary Additional evidence is presented which confirms previous suggestions that there may not be a phylogenetic relationship between the imperfect genusCryptococcus and the perfect genusLipomyces. This evidence is based on several observations: (1) that oxomalonic (mesoxalic) acid can be identified in media in whichLipomyces lipofer andL. starkeyi are growing but not in media in whichCryptococcus neoformans is growing (2) that dividing nuclei in cells ofC. neoformans do not appear to behave in a manner similar to those described in cells ofL. lipofer and (3) that attempts to obtain. ascospore formation inC. neoformans have so far been unsuccessful.The latter stages of these investigations were supported by a Public Health Research Grant (Project 605-7-240) to the author.     

Zur Kinetik der Mischsubstratutilisation bei der Citronensäure-akkumulation durch Saccharomycopsis lipolytica EH 59

The mechanism and the kinetic of the assimilation of mixed substrates during the organism growth and the product excretion by strain of Saccharomycopsis lipolytica have been studied. The assimilation of citric acid for the organism growth was prevented when glucose and/or n-paraffins are present as substrates. Citric acid concentrations higher than 30 g/l in the fermentation medium decrease the growth rate on the substrate glucose. Kinetic studies of the mixed substrate assimilation by means of a n-tetradecane-1-C-labelled paraffin fraction proved that in discontinuous as well as in continuous 1-stage-processes for microbial production of citric acid glucose as substrate is only used for the organism growth whereas the n-paraffin fraction is only used for the acid excretion.     

The generic classification of Fayum anthropoidea

The early anthropoid species initially described asAegyptopithecus zeuxis Simons, 1965, from the Oligocene of Egypt, although retained by many authors in the monotypic genusAegyptopithecus, has been lumped by others into the genusPropliopithecus. Similarly, the species originally described asParapithecus grangeri Simons, 1974, has been ranked by some authors in a monotypic genusSimonsius, while others retain it inParapithecus. Criteria to be considered in resolving these taxonomic debates are (1) the adequacy and consistency of proposed morphological differences between species; (2) analogy with the degree of morphological variation tolerated within extant genera; and (3) nomenclatural conservatism. A philosophy that would require strict monophyletic classification is of insufficient practical value for assessing the validity of Fayum genera. Characters cited as distinguishing vetweenAegyptopithecus andPropliopithecus, and betweenSimonsius andParapithecus, are reviewed and evaluated. The results indicate thatA. zeuxis is generically distinct from species ofPropliopithecus, based on differences in the crown structure and proportions of the molars.Pa. grangeri cannot be shown to differ at the generic level from the type and only known specimen ofPa. fraasi, thus establishing Simonsius as a junior synonym ofParapithecus.     

Nova especie do genero Coelomomyces parasito de ovos de Phlebotomus

Summary A new species of fungus of the genusCoelomomyces, C. ciferrii has been found as endoparasites ofPhlebotomus eggs at Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, State in Brazil. It is the first time that the genusCoelomomyces is found in Brasil.The morphological characters of the new species are distinct from other species described.     

Pichia robertsii nov. spec. A new haploid homothallic yeast

Summary A new haploid, homothallic yeast isolated from the larval feed ofXylocopa caffra is described. A study of its properties shows that the evolution of its sexual and biochemical characteristics has not taken place at the same rate as in the genusHansenula and the proposed genusDekkeromyces. This led the author to the conclusion that in the yeast domain phylogenetic lines may exist in which a unilateral evolution of biochemical characteristics has taken place. At least thre groups of yeasts exist where such discrepancies exist between the evolution of their sexual and biochemical characteristics. The inclusion of the new species in these groups is discussed. The new species has provisionally been classified in the genusPichia (in sensu Phaff). A Latin diagnosis of the species is given.     

The taxonomy of yeasts found in exudates of certain trees and other natural breeding sites of some species ofDrosophila

Summary A survey was made of the yeasts occurring in slime fluxes ofQuercus kellogii (black oak),Abies concolor (red fir) and in certain mushrooms and dead logs in the mountains of the Yosemite region of California. Most of the 134 isolates identified were found to be non-fermentative or poorly fermentative (fermenting glucose only and usually weakly). The isolates were placed in the following genera:Pichia (34),Debaryomyces (35), imperfect forms ofHansenula (39),Endomyces (3),Saccharomyces (2),Candida (11),Trichosporon (7),Torulopsis (1),Cryptococcus (1) andSporobolomyces (1). Four new species have been described,Pichia silvestris, Pichia quercibus, Pichia carsonii andDebaryomyces fluxorum. P. quercibus andP. carsonii are unusual representatives of the genusPichia in that they form a very primitive pseudomycelium and lack pellicles on malt extract. To accommodate such species an amended diagnosis of the genusPichia has been proposed byPhaff in an accompanying paper.Saccharomyces pastori, of which 12 isolates were obtained, has been transferred to the amended genusPichia asP. pastori (Guilliermond) nov. comb.     

Hyphal and mycelial interactions betweenAgaricus bisporus andScytalidium thermophilum on agar media

The interaction betweenAgaricus bisporus andScytalidium thermophilum on agar media was studied by differential interference contrast and phase contrast microscopy.A. bisporus combatively replacesS. thermophilum in culture on agar media. The antagonistic effect ofA. bisporus is transmissible through a cellophane membrane and causes irreversible disintegration ofS. thermophilum protoplasm, resulting in a total loss of viability after prolonged interaction between the two fungi. On compost extract agar, but not on other media, the growth rate ofA. bisporus increased from 2.7 to 5.3 mm·d^–1 following contact withS. thermophilum mycelium.     

Polyol synthesis and taxonomic characters in the genusMoniliella

A study of the physiological and morphological characters of the moulds of the genusMoniliella Stolk et Dakin demonstrated the existence of a new variety ofMoniliella tomentosa (v. Beyma) Stolk, referred to asMoniliella tomentosa var.pollinis. The distinction is based on the green olivaceous tinge of the colonies on agar media and the production, in liquid media with either peptone, potassium nitrate, or yeast extract — maltose, of a diffusable yellow pigment.Polyol synthesis occurs in all the strains examined of the genusMoniliella. Paper- and gas-chromatographic methods show that the polyhydric alcohols are mainly glycerol and erythritol.M. tomentosa produces higher amounts than doesM. acetoabutans. Glycerol is in excess in both species. The highest yields are obtained with the varietypollinis and here erythritol predominates. This strain, which grows well in the yeast form, is technically interesting.The authors wish to thank Dr. G. J. Hajny for providing the strain of the newMoniliella tomentosa variety. Thanks are also due to Prof. emer. J. Frateur for his helpful suggestions, and to Miss B. Verdonck for conscientious technical assistance.We are much indebted to the IWONL for financial support of one of us (L.D.) and to the F.N.R.S. Institution for research grants.     

OnEndomyces,Endomycopsis and related yeast-like fungi

Strains in the culture collection of the Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures under the generic namesEndomyces andEndomycopsis were compared with related genera of filamentous and yeast-like fungi. The genusEndomyces is accepted for ascigerous states ofGeotrichum; 6 species are keyed out and discussed. The genus nameEndomycopsis is rejected as it is an obligate synonym ofSaccharomycopsis. ForEndomyces javanensis, Endomycopsis platypodis andSaccharomycopsis synnaedendra the new generaArthroascus, Hormoascus andBotryoascus are proposed; the genusGuilliermondella is reintroduced. Briefly discussed are the generaSchizosaccharomyces, Eremascus, Dipodascus, Ascoidea, Cephaloascus, Ambrosiozyma andCrebrothecium. A key is given for the genera of yeast-like “ascomycetes” with septate hyphae. Some species described asGeotrichum are transferred to other genera.     

A phylogenetic dissection of the family micrococcaceae

A comparative analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA sequences in the Micrococcaceae shows the family not to be a phylogenetically coherent unit. In fact, at least two of its three genera are themselves not valid phylogenetic units. Species, of the genusMicrococcus are phylogenetically inseparable from those ofArthrobacter. The genusPlanococcus groups specifically with certain members ofBacillus, andStaphylococcus is also related to the genusBacillus, though more peripherally. These findings question the validity of spherical shape as a valid indicator of phylogenetic relationships on all but the lowest levels.     

Growth and pigment production byArthrobacter pyridinolis n. sp.

A new bacterium capable of growing on 2-hydroxypyridine as sole source of carbon and nitrogen was isolated from soil. During its growth on solid medium, approximately 50% of this substrate was converted to a brilliant blue crystalline pigment which was deposited extracellularly in the colony mass. The pigment was identical to that produced byArthrobacter crystallopoietes during its growth on 2-hydroxypyridine. The new isolate exhibited the typical cycle of morphogenesis characteristic of the genusArthrobacter. The organism is different from all other reported species ofArthrobacter. It is proposed that the organism be namedArthrobacter pyridinolis n. sp.List of Abbreviations MSP mineral salts phosphate basal culture medium containing 2-hydroxypyridine, yeast extract and trace salts - 2-HP 2-hydroxypyridine - PFU plaque forming units - G+C guanine+cytosine - T _m midpoint of thermal denaturation     

Aessosporon dendrophilum sp. nov., the perfect state ofBullera dendrophila

The perfect state ofBullera dendrophila has been identified and is regarded as representative of the genusAessosporon. The diagnosis of the genus has been emended to accommodate this perfect state which is described asAessosporon dendrophilum.     

Reevaluation of the taxonomy ofVibrio,beneckea, andPhotobacterium: Abolition of the genusBeneckea

As a result of studies on the evolution of glutamine synthetase and superoxide dismutase, the genusBeneckea has been abolished and its constituent species, along withPhotobacterium fischeri andP. logei, assigned to the genusVibrio. The definitions ofVibrio andPhotobacterium have been modified accordingly.     

Taxonomic studies of Choanephoraceae in India

Summary A taxonomic study of the members of the family Choanephoraceae was undertaken. Almost all the species of the family have been isolated from various sources in India. Two genera, viz.,Blakeslea andChoanephora have been recognized and a key to the genera has been given. The genusBlakeslea includes only one speciesB. trispora and the genusChoanephora five species. A key to the species has also been given. A new variety ofChoanephora circinans, viz.,C. circinans var.prolifera Mehrotra andMehrotra based on the proliferating vesicular apices of the sporangiophores has been described.     

Isolationin vitro ofStrongwellsea castrans [Fungi: Entomophthorales] a pathogen of adult cabbage root flies,Delia radicum [Dipt.: Anthomyiidae]

The entomogenous fungusStrongwellsea castrans was isolatedin vitro for the first time, by incubating conidia projected from infected cabbage root flies (Delia radicum) in a simple, semi-defined liquid medium comprising dextrose, yeast extract and lactalbumin hydrolysate buffered to pH 7. The fungus grew as long unitunicate hyphae. After transfer to a solid nutrient medium, multinucleate hyphal bodies were formed which developed a thick, laminated wall. Neither conidia nor resting spores developed in liquid or on solid media and the fungus survived successive sub-culturing only in liquid media. Using the API-ZYM system, tests on extracts on hyphae ofS. castrans were positive for 11 enzymes but there were no consistent differences in enzyme profiles betweenS. castrans and fungi of the related genusErynia.      

Metabolic roles of peptone and yeast extract for the culture of a recombinant strain ofEscherichia coli

Summary The influence of complex compounds on the growth of a recombinant strain ofEscherichia coli containing the gene encoding glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, as well as the production of this enzyme have been studied. Batchwise cultures led to an accumulation of acetate, which was not utilized in a yeast extract-free medium. After glucose exhaustion, growth stopped and enzyme activity decreased. Whereas yeast extract allowed acetate assimilation and growth, peptone stabilized the enzymatic activity. The addition of both compounds resulted in optimal performances for enzyme production.