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Title: KURAISHIA MOLISCHIANA SP. NOV., THE TELEOMORPH OF CANDIDA MOLISCHIANA (ZIKES) S.A. MEYER & YARROW

Author
item PETER, GABOR - UNIV OF BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
item DLAUCHY, DENES - UNIV OF BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
item TORNAI-LEHOCZKI, JUDIT - UNIV OF BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
item Kurtzman, Cletus

Submitted to: Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/12/2005
Publication Date: 6/15/2005
Citation: Peter, G., Dlauchy, D., Tornai-Lehoczki, J., Kurtzman, C.P. 2005. Kuraishia molischiana sp. nov., the teleomorph of Candida molischiana (Zikes) S.A. Meyer & Yarrow. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. 88:241-247.

Interpretive Summary: Candida molischiana was believed to be the asexual state of the ascospore forming yeast Kuraishia (Pichia) capsulata because the two appear identical on standard diagnostic growth tests. Ribosomal DNA gene sequencing revealed that these two yeasts are actually separate species. Newly recognized strains of C. molischiana formed ascospores, which require that the species be placed in the genus Kuraishia. The results of this work provide a second species to the genetically isolated genus Kuraishia, expanding our knowledge of yeast biodiversity, and also demonstrate that accurate identification of yeast species requires gene sequence comparisons.

Technical Abstract: Thirty-one strains, many of them isolated from wood-associated habitats, and designated as Kuraishia (Pichia) capsulata and Candida molischiana from phenotype, exhibited two types of Hae III restriction fragment patterns of their 18S rDNA. One fragment pattern corresponded to that of the type strain of Kuraishia capsulata, whereas the other pattern was unique to the type strain of Candida molischiana. Sequencing of the D1/D2 domain of large subunit (26S) rDNA confirmed that the different Hae III restriction fragment patterns of 18S rDNA reliably distinguished Kuraishia capsulata from Candida molischiana. Ascospore formation was observed in several Candida molischiana strains, and Kuraishia molischiana (type strain: NCAIM Y.01725, CBS 9993) is proposed as the teleomorphic state of Candida molischiana.