ARS | Publication request: TWO NEW SPECIES IN THE PICHIA GUILLIERMONDII CLADE: PICHIA CARIBBICA SP. NOV., THE ASCOSPORIC STATE OF CANDIDA FERMENTATI, AND CANDIDA CARPOPHILA COMB. NOV.

Submitted to: Federation Of European Microbiological Societies Yeast Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: October 20, 2004
Publication Date: February 4, 2005
Citation: Vaughan-Martini, A., Kurtzman, C.P., Meyer, S.A., O'Neill, E. 2005. Two new species in the pichia guilliermondii clade: pichia caribbica sp. nov., the ascosporic state of candida fermentati, and candida carpophila comb. nov.. Federation Of European Microbiological Societies Yeast Research. 5:463-469.

Interpretive Summary: Members of the Pichia guilliermondii species complex are widespread in nature and can cause infections in humans and animals. Separation of the species in this complex is impossible using standard laboratory methods. In this study, gene sequences from ribosomal DNA, as well as nuclear DNA hybridization, were used to resolve species in this complex, which was found to be comprised of Pichia guilliermondii, and the newly described species Pichia caribbica and Candida carpophila. Resolution of the species complex, as reported here, will permit more accurate clinical and veterinary diagnostics that will improve therapy for infections resulting from these yeasts.

Technical Abstract: Pichia caribbica sp. nov. (type strain DBVPG 4519, NRRL Y-27274) is described as the ascosporic state of Candida fermentati, and Candida guilliermondii var. carpophila (type strain DBVPG 7739, NRRL Y-17905, CBS 5256) is elevated to specIes status as Candida carpophila comb. nov. These new taxa, which are indistinguishable on the basis of conventional taxonomic criteria, differ from one another and from Pichia guilliermondii, by low DNA base sequence relatedness, different electrophoretic karyotypes, and nucleotide divergence in domains D1/D2 of 26S rDNA. Pichia caribbica produces one, rarely two, saturn-shaped ascospores in persistent asci. On the basis of molecular criteria, C. carpophila comb. nov., C. fukuyamaensis, and C. xestobii are conspecific with the name C. carpophila having taxonomic priority.