Jump to content

Kluyveromyces wickerhamii

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kluyveromyces wickerhamii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Saccharomycetes
Order: Saccharomycetales
Family: Saccharomycetaceae
Genus: Kluyveromyces
Species:
K. wickerhamii
Binomial name
Kluyveromyces wickerhamii
(Phaff, M.W. Mill & Shifrine) Van der Walt, 1971
Synonyms
  • Dekkeromyces wickerhamii
  • Guilliermondella wickerhamii
  • Zygofabospora wickerhamii
  • Saccharomyces wickerhamii

Kluyveromyces wickerhamii is a fungus in the genus Kluyveromyces that exists as a yeast.

Taxonomy

[edit]

Upon discovery in 1956, K. wickerhamii was placed into the genus Saccharomyces.[1][2] A 1965 reorganization of the genus Kluyveromyces included the introduction of K. wickerhamii to the genus.[3][4] It was named after mycologist Lynferd Wickerham due to his contributions to yeast taxonomy.[2]

Growth and morphology

[edit]

After growth on YM agar, the cells of K. wickerhamii have been described as "spherical to cylindrical" with colorations ranging from cream to pink or brown, due to the production of the iron chelate pulcherrimin.[5] Cells grown in malt extract media have been described as oval in shape, and can occur individually, paired, or in chains.[2] A thin pellicle can be observed when grown in glucose-yeast extract broth.[5] Pseudohyphae can be observed when grown on corn meal agar.[5]

K. wickerhamii has the ability to ferment certain compounds. It can ferment glucose, and can weakly ferment galactose and sucrose. It lacks the ability to ferment lactose, as well as maltose and raffinose.[2][5]

Ecology

[edit]

Kluyveromyces wickerhamii is believed to be associated with insects. It was first isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of the fly species Drosophila pinicola and Drosophila montana in Aspen Valley, in Yosemite National Park.[1][2] It has also been isolated from tree species Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)[6] and Fremont's Cottonwood (Populus fremontii).[7] These trees likely host K. wickerhamii due to their status as habitats to Drosophila flies.[5]

Utility as an antifungal producer

[edit]

Kluyveromyces wickerhamii, like other members of Kluyveromyces, is known to naturally produce an antifungal substance.[8] It has been suggested that this antifungal production may be a useful tool to prevent wine spoilage by other yeasts such as Brettanomyces.[9]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Phaff, H. J.; Miller, M. W.; Recca, J. A.; Shifrine, M.; Mrak, E. M. (1956). "Yeasts Found in the Alimentary Canal of Drosophila". Ecology. 37 (3): 533–538. doi:10.2307/1930176. ISSN 0012-9658.
  2. ^ a b c d e Phaff, H. J.; Miller, M. W.; Shifrine, M. (1956-12-01). "The taxonomy of yeasts isolated from Drosophila in the Yosemite region of California". Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. 22 (1): 145–161. doi:10.1007/BF02538322. ISSN 1572-9699.
  3. ^ van der Walt, J. P. (1965-12-01). "The emendation of the genusKluyveromyces v. d. Walt". Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. 31 (1): 341–348. doi:10.1007/BF02045913. ISSN 1572-9699.
  4. ^ Walt, J. P. van der (1971-11-14). "New Combinations in the Genera Brettanomyces, Kluyveromyces, Lodderomyces and Wingea". Bothalia. 10 (3): 417–418. doi:10.4102/abc.v10i3.1545. ISSN 2311-9284.
  5. ^ a b c d e Lachance, Marc-André (2011-01-01), Kurtzman, Cletus P.; Fell, Jack W.; Boekhout, Teun (eds.), "Kluyveromyces van der Walt (1971)", The Yeasts (Fifth Edition), London: Elsevier, pp. 471–481, ISBN 978-0-444-52149-1, retrieved 2024-10-03
  6. ^ "CBS 8526". wi.knaw.nl. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  7. ^ "CBS 8525". wi.knaw.nl. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  8. ^ Lehmann, Paul F.; Lemon, Mary B.; Ferencak, William J. (1987). "Antifungal Compounds ("Killer Factors") Produced by Kluyveromyces Species and Their Detection on an Improved Medium Containing Glycerol". Mycologia. 79 (5): 790–794. doi:10.2307/3807833. ISSN 0027-5514.
  9. ^ Comitini, Francesca; De Ingeniis, Jessica; Pepe, Laura; Mannazzu, Ilaria; Ciani, Maurizio (2004-09-01). "Pichia anomala and Kluyveromyces wickerhamii killer toxins as new tools against Dekkera/Brettanomyces spoilage yeasts". FEMS microbiology letters. 238 (1): 235–240. doi:10.1016/j.femsle.2004.07.040. ISSN 0378-1097. PMID 15336427.