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Title: Four novel yeasts species from decaying organic matter: Blastobotrys robertii sp. nov., Candida cretensis sp. nov., Candida scorzettiae sp. nov. and Candida vadensis sp. nov

Author
item MIDDELHOVEN, WOUTER - WAGENINGEN UNIV, NTHRLNDS
item Kurtzman, Cletus

Submitted to: Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2007
Publication Date: 7/1/2007
Citation: Middelhoven, W.J., Kurtzman, C.P. 2007. Four novel yeasts species from decaying organic matter: Blastobotrys robertii sp. nov., Candida cretensis sp. nov., Candida scorzettiae sp. nov. and Candida vadensis sp. nov. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek. 92:233-244.

Interpretive Summary: Gene sequence analysis has provided an accurate means for rapid identification of yeasts. As a result of using sequence analysis, the number of known yeasts has doubled in the past 5-8 years, resulting in a far better understanding of the occurrence of yeasts in the environment, in agricultural settings and in clinical medicine. In the present paper, four new yeasts are described and were recognized as new from their unique gene sequences. One of the new species (Candida scorzettiae) grows on phenolic compounds and may be important for biomass conversion as well as for environmental cleanup.

Technical Abstract: Four novel Candida species are described, two from decaying mushrooms, viz. Candida cretensis and C. vadensis, and two from rotten wood, viz. C. robertii and C. scorzettiae. Accession numbers for the CBS and ARS culture collections, and GenBank accession numbers for the D1/D2 region of the large subunit of ribosomal DNA are: C. cretensis CBS 9453T, NRRL Y-27777, AY 4998861 and DQ 839393; C. robertii CBS 10106T, NRRL Y-27775, DQ 839395; C. scorzettiae CBS 10107T, NRRL Y-27665, DQ 839394; C. vadensis CBS 9454T, NRRL Y-27778, AY 498863 and DQ 839396. The GenBank accession number for the ITS region of C. cretensis is AY 498862 and that for C. vadensis is AY 498864. C. cretensis was the only species of the four that displayed fermentative activity. All four type strains grew on n-hexadecane. C. scorzettiae is the only one that assimilates some phenolic compounds, viz. 3-hydroxy derivatives of benzoic, phenylacetic and cinnamic acids, but not the corresponding 4-hydroxy acids. This is indicative of an operative gentisate pathway.