ARS | Publication request: Recognition of Yeast Species from Gene Sequence Comparisons

Submitted to: The Open Applied Informatics Journal
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: April 22, 2011
Publication Date: July 18, 2011
Citation: Kurtzman, C.P. 2011. Recognition of yeast species from gene sequence comparisons. The Open Applied Informatics Journal. 5:20-29.

Interpretive Summary: The manner in which yeasts are identified has been transformed by the use of gene sequence analyses, and this application of molecular biology has resulted in a doubling of known species in the past decade. This review discusses the genes that are used for species identification and the degree of genetic resolution that they provide. Also discussed is the use of single-gene and multi-gene diagnostics and the increased resolution provided by multi-gene analyses. Gene-based identification systems are rapid, accurate and have been of major benefit to research and quality control in food safety, food spoilage, biotechnology and clinical microbiology.

Technical Abstract: This review discusses recognition of yeast species from gene sequence comparisons, which have been responsible for doubling the number of known yeasts over the past decade. The resolution provided by various single gene sequences is examined for both ascomycetous and basidiomycetous species, and the greater resolution of species provided by multigene analyses is discussed. Various methods are presented for rapid species identification using gene sequencing.