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International audience; Phoma stem canker, a highly damaging disease of oilseed rape (Brassica napus), is caused by fungi of the Leptosphaeria maculans/Leptosphaeria biglobosa species complex. On B. napus, at least in Europe, L. maculans ‘brassicae’ (LMB) and L. biglobosa ‘brassicae’ (LBB) are often found together, in the same fields. The biology and epidemiology of LMB have been intensively studied, but few studies have investigated the infection and colonization processes of LBB, and unanswered questions remain concerning the relative contributions of these two species to phoma stem canker disease. We addressed this question by developing two species-specific robust quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays, one for each species, for detecting and quantifying these species in field samples of oilseed rape. The assays were highly specific, reproducible, and sensitive. We used them to obtain an overview of stem canker epidemiology in a two-year field study of a B. napus genotype susceptible to LMB, and a near-isogenic line harbouring Rlm11, a gene conferring effective resistance to LMB. Inoculum pressure differed considerably between the two years of the experiment, and we found that LMB leaf spotting intensity at limited observation time points was insufficient for predicting final disease severity. We also found that LBB was more prevalent than previously thought, with epidemiological and colonization biology characteristics very similar to those of LMB, but a necrotrophic lifestyle. The general presence of these two species together on leaves and in the stem tissues of the same individual plant raises questions about their relative incidence and biological interactions within plant tissues.

Two strains (DMKU-GTCP10-8 and CLIB 1740) representing a novel anamorphic yeast species were isolated from a grease sample collected from a grease trap in Thailand and from an unidentified fungus collected in French Guiana, respectively. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis based on the combined D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, Lachancea fermentati CBS 707T was the closely related species with 12.8 % sequence divergence (70 nucleotide substitutions and three gaps in 571 nucleotides) and 28.1 % sequence divergence (93 nucleotide substitutions and 90 gaps in 651 nucleotides) in the D1/D2 domain of the LSU rRNA gene and the ITS region, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated sequences of the five genes including the small subunit rRNA gene, the D1/D2 domain of the LSU rRNA gene, the ITS region, translation elongation factor-1 alpha (TEF1) and RNA polymerase II subunit 2 (RPB2) genes confirmed that the two strains (DMKU-GTCP10-8 and CLIB 1740) were well-separated from other described yeast genera in Saccharomycetaceae. Hence, Savitreea pentosicarens gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate these two strains as members of the family Saccharomycetaceae. The holotype is S. pentosicarens DMKU-GTCP10-8T (ex-type strain TBRC 12159=PYCC 8490; MycoBank number 835044).

International audience; Analysis of yeasts isolated from various biotopes in French Guiana led to the identification of two strains isolated from flowers and designated CLIB 1634(T) and CLIB 1707(T). Comparison of the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU D1/D2) rRNA gene sequences of CLIB 1634(T) and CLIB 1707(T) to those in the GenBank database revealed that these strains belong to the Starmerella Glade. Strain CLIB 1634(T) was shown to diverge from the closely related Starmerella apicola type strain CBS 2868 T with a sequence divergence of 1.34 and 1.30 %, in the LSU D1/D2 rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences respectively. Strain CLIB 1634(T) and Candida apicola CBS 2868(T) diverged by 3.81 and 14.96 % at the level of the protein-coding gene partial sequences EF-1 alpha and RPB2, respectively. CLIB 1707(T) was found to have sequence divergence of 3.88 and 9.16 % in the LSU D1/D2 rRNA gene and ITS, respectively, from that of the most closely related species Starmerella ratchasimensis type strain CBS 10611(T). The species Starmerella reginensis f.a., sp. nov. and Starmerella kourouensis f.a., sp. nov. are proposed to accommodate strains CLIB 1634(T) (=CBS 15247(T)) and CLIB 1707(T) (=CBS 15257(T)), respectively.

International audience; The extent of the diversity of yeasts in tropical rain forest and different environments from French Guiana was investigated. A total of 365 samples were collected from various substrates, such as plants, fruits and insects, at 13 locations, yielding 276 pure yeast isolates. Sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene indicated that 210 isolates out of 276 belonged to 82 described species (67 Saccharomycotina, 14 Basidiomycota and 1 Pezizomycotina). In addition to these, a total of 54 Saccharomycotina isolates could not be assigned to a known species. These belonged to 14 genera and should be studied further from a taxonomic point of view. In addition, among the 43 Basidiomycotina isolates found, 12 could not be assigned to a known species. This report shows an unexpected biodiversity and indicates that oversea territories, such as French Guiana, constitute a largely unexplored reservoir for yeast diversity. Two Saccharomycotina strains, CLIB 1706 and CLIB 1725, isolated from an insect and from a fern respectively, were characterized further and were shown to belong to the Suhomyces Glade on the basis of the rDNA sequence comparison. CLIB 1706(T) rDNA sequences showed nine substitutions and three indels out of 556 bp (D1/D2 domains) and 32 substitutions and 12 indels out of 380 bp [internal transcribed spacer (ITS)] with that of the most closely related species Suhomyces guaymorum CBS 9823(T). CLIB 1725(T) rDNA sequences presented 18 substitutions and one indel out of 549 bp (D1/D2 domains) and 48 substitutions and 11 indels out of 398 bp (ITS) with that of its closest relative Suhomyces vadensis CBS 9454(T). Two novel species of the genus Suhomyces were described to accommodate these two strains: Suhomyces coccinellae f.a. sp. nov. (CLIB 1706(T) =CBS 14298(T)) and Suhomyces faveliae f.a. sp. nov. (CLIB 1725(T) =CBS 14299(T)).

Geotrichum candidum is an ubiquitous yeast, and an essential component in the production of many soft cheeses. We developed a Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) scheme with five retained loci (NUP116, URA1, URA3, SAPT4, PLB3) which were sufficiently divergent to distinguish 40 Sequence Types (STs) among the 67 G. candidum strains tested. Phylogenetic analyses defined five main clades; one clade was restricted to environmental isolates, three other clades included distinct environmental isolates and dairy strains, while the fifth clade comprised 34 strains (13 STs), among which all but two were isolated from milk, cheese or dairy environment. These findings suggest an adaptation to the dairy ecosystems by a group of specialized European G. candidum strains. In addition, we developed a PCR inter-LTR scheme, a fast and reproducible RAPD-like method for G. candidum, to type the closely related dairy strains, which could not be distinguished by MLST. Overall, our findings distinguished two types of dairy strains, one forming a homogeneous group with little genetic diversity, and the other more closely related to environmental isolates. Neither regional nor cheese specificity was observed in the dairy G. candidum strains analyzed. This present study sheds light on the genetic diversity of both dairy and environmental strains of G. candidum and thus extends previous characterizations that have focused on the cheese isolates of this species.

Two yeast strains that are members of the same species were isolated from different marine habitats, i.e. one from Mid-Atlantic Ridge ocean water samples located in the direct vicinity of black smokers near the Rainbow deep-sea hydrothermal vent and one from Brazilian marine water samples off the Ipanema beach. Strains CLIB 1964(T) and CLIB 1965 are anamorphic ascomycetous yeasts affiliated to the Yamadazyma clade of Saccharomycetales. Interestingly, these strains were phylogenetically and distinctly positioned into a group of species comprising all species of the genus Yamadazyma isolated from marine habitats including deep-sea hydrothermal vents, i.e. Candida atmosphaerica, C. spencermartinsiae, C. atlantica, C. oceani and C. taylorii. These strains differed significantly in their D1/D2 domain sequences of the LSU rRNA gene from the closely related species mentioned above, by 2.6, 3.0, 3.4, 3.8 and 6.0 %, respectively. Internal transcribed spacer region sequence divergence was also significant and corresponded to 4.6, 4.7, 4.7, 12.0 and 24.7% with C. atlantica, C. atmosphaerica, C. spencermartinsiae, C. oceani and C. taylorii, respectively. Phenotypically, strains CLIB 1964(T) and CLIB 1965 could be distinguished from closely related species by their inability to assimilate L-sorbose. CLIB 1964(T) (= CBS 14301(T) = UBOCC-A-214001(T)) is the designated type strain for Yamadazyma barbieri sp. nov. The MycoBank number is MB 815884.

International audience; Twelve strains of a novel yeast species were isolated from rotting wood, mushrooms and fruit samples in Brazil and French Guiana. Analysis of the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene showed that the novel species belongs to the Kurtzmaniella Clade. The novel species differed from its closest relative, Candida natalensis, by 12 substitutions in the D1/D2 sequences. The novel species could be distinguished from C. natalensis by its inability to assimilate cellobiose and salicin, and growth at 50 % (w/w) glucose. The name Kurtzmaniella hittingeri f.a., sp. nov. is proposed for the novel species. The type strain of K. hittingeri sp. nov. is CBS 13469(T) (=UFMG CM-Y272(T)). The MycoBank number is 827183. We also propose the transfer of Candida fragi, Candida quercitrusa and Candida natalensis to the genus Kurtzmaniella as new combinations.

International audience; Six yeast strains representing two novel Wickerhamiella species were isolated from plants and insects collected in Costa Rica, Brazil, and French Guiana. They belong to a subclade containing Wickerhamiella domercqiae and Wickerhamiella bombiphila, and differ by approximately 12 % in the D1 /D2 sequences of the large subunit rRNA gene from these species. The intergenic spacer (ITS) regions of the two novel species differ by around 19 and 27%, respectively, from those of W. domercqiae. The novel species exhibit 5 % divergence in the D1 /D2 sequences among them (around 4 % in the ITS). The names Wickerhamiella dianesei f.a., sp. nov. and Wickerhamiella kurtzmanii f.a., sp. nov. are proposed to accommodate these species, for which a sexual cycle has not been observed. Wickerhamiella dianesei was isolated from the stingless bee, Trigona fulviventris, collected in an Asteraceae flower in Costa Rica, and from leaves of Sabicea brasiliensis (Rubiaceae) and a flower of Byrsonima crassifolia (Malpighiaceae) in Brazil. Wickerhamiellsa kurtzmanii was isolated from a flower of Ipomoea batatoides (Convolvulaceae) in Costa Rica, the surface of a fruit of B. crassifolia in Brazil, and flowers in French Guiana. The type strains are Wickerhamiella dianesei UWOPS 00-107.1(T) (=CBS 14185=NRRL Y-63789; Mycobank number MB 827008) and Wickerhamiella kurtzmanii UWOPS 00-192.1(T) (=CBS 15383=NRRL Y-63979; MB 827011).

International audience; During a survey of the yeast community associated with the phylloplane of corn in Thailand, a basidiomycetous yeast strain belonging to the genus Papiliotrema was isolated. Analyses of the D1/D2 domains of the 26S (LSU) rRNA gene and complete ITS region supported the recognition of a novel species, for which the name Papiliotrema plantarum sp. nov. is proposed (type strain DMKU-CP801(T) =CBS 15220(T) =PYCC 7257(T)). Another strain of P. plantarum sp. nov., isolated in French Guiana, was found to be sexually compatible with the Thai isolate and mycelium with clamp connections, basidia and basidiospores were observed in culture. The basidial morphology of P. plantarum combined features previously observed for Papiliotrema bandonii and Papiliotrema fuscus, which represent the only sexual species hitherto known in the genus, i.e. transversely septate basidia, with sexual structures of the Tremella type.

Kazachstania saulgeensis is a recently described species isolated from French organic sourdough. Here, we report the high quality genome sequence of a monosporic segregant of the type strain of this species, CLIB 1764(T) (= CBS 14374(T)). The genome has a total length of 12.9 Mb and contains 5326 putative protein-coding genes, excluding pseudogenes and transposons. The nucleotide sequences were deposited into the European Nucleotide Archive under the genome assembly accession numbers FXLY01000001-FXLY01000017.

WOS:000393357900048; International audience; Five ascosporogenous yeast strains related to the genus Kazachstania were isolated. Two strains (CLIB 1764(T) and CLIB 1780) were isolated from French sourdoughs; three others (UFMG-CM-Y273(T), UFMG-CM-Y451 and UFMG-CM-Y452) were from rotting wood in Brazil. The sequences of the French and Brazilian strains differed by one and three substitutions, respectively, in the D1/D2 large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS). The D1/D2 LSU rRNA sequence of these strains differed by 0.5 and 0.7 % from Kazachstania exigua, but their ITS sequences diverged by 8.1 and 8.3%, respectively, from that of the closest described species Kazachstania barnettii. Analysis of protein coding sequences of RPB1, RPB2 and EF-1 alpha distinguished the French from the Brazilian strains, with respectively 3.3, 6 and 11.7 % substitutions. Two novel species are described to accommodate these newly isolated strains: Kazachstania saulgeensis sp. nov. (type strain CLIB 1764(T)=CBS 14374(T)) and Kazachstania serrabonitensis sp. nov. (type strain UFMG-CM-Y273(T)=CLIB 1783(T)=CBS 14236(T)). Further analysis of culture collections revealed a strain previously assigned to the K. exigua species, but having 3.8% difference (22 substitutions and 2 indels) in its ITS with respect to K. exigua. Hence, we describe a new taxon, Kazachstania australis sp. nov. (type strain CLIB 162(T)=CBS 2141(T)), to accommodate this strain. Finally, Candida humilis and Candida pseudohumilis are reassigned to the genus Kazachstania as new combinations. On the basis of sequence analysis, we also propose that Candida miller and Kazachstania humilis comb. nov. are conspecific.

Hemiascomycetous yeasts constitute a class of unicellular fungi often associated with the food and drink processing industries. A number of species including Kluveromyces lactis, Debaryomyces hansenii, Yarrowia lipolytica, play a key role in the cheese-making process by providing aroma, affecting texture and/or permitting the growth of other microorgansisms. The large majority of yeast infections are due to a few opportunistic species presently classified within the genus Candida, and occur in immunocompromised patients. Recent advances in taxonomy have provided evidence for the incorrect classification of a number of yeasts and suggest that their association with the genus Candida should be reconsidered. Indeed, none of the most common pathogenic Candida species are found in cheese. Improved techniques, combined with more advanced analytical methods have brought to light several emerging pathogens, some of which are involved in cheese-making, for example D. hansenii and Y. lipolytica. Other emerging pathogens may also be found as rare occurrences in cheese. Problems in designation of these isolates are due in part to the still limited range of specific methods of identification and are exacerbated by lack of consensus concerning yeast taxonomy. These organisms cause rare infections in immunocompromised and hospitalized patients, which are generally mild and either self-limiting or easily treated. From studies with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, it seems that it is more the exposure to high doses of yeast than the identity of the species or strain that is associated with infection. As such yeasts in cheese cannot be considered to constitute a risk for healthy individuals.

Raffia wine is a traditional alcoholic beverage produced in several African countries where it plays a significant role in traditional customs and population diet. Alcoholic fermentation of this beverage is ensured by a complex natural yeast flora which plays a decisive role in the quality of the final product. This present study aims to evaluate the distribution and the diversity of the yeast strains isolated in raffia wine from four sampling areas (Abengourou, Alépé, Grand-Lahou and Adzopé) in Côte d'Ivoire. Based on the D1/D2 domain of the LSU rDNA sequence analysis, nine species belonging to six genera were distinguished. With a percentage of 69.5 % out of 171 yeast isolates, Saccharomyces cerevisiae was the predominant species in the raffia wine, followed by Kodamaea ohmeri (20.4 %). The other species isolated were Candida haemulonii (4.1 %), Candida phangngensis (1.8 %), Pichia kudriavzevii (1.2 %), Hanseniaspora jakobsenii (1.2 %), Candida silvae (0.6 %), Hanseniaspora guilliermondii (0.6 %) and Meyerozyma caribbica (0.6 %). The molecular characterization of S. cerevisiae isolates at the strain level using the PCR-interdelta method revealed the presence of 21 profiles (named I to XXI) within 115 isolates. Only four profiles (I, III, V and XI) were shared by the four areas under study. Phenotypic characterization of K. ohmeri strains showed two subgroups for sugar fermentation and no diversity for the nitrogen compound assimilations and the growth at different temperatures.

The evolutionary history of the characters underlying the adaptation of microorganisms to food and biotechnological uses is poorly understood. We undertook comparative genomics to investigate evolutionary relationships of the dairy yeast Geotrichum candidum within Saccharomycotina. Surprisingly, a remarkable proportion of genes showed discordant phylogenies, clustering with the filamentous fungus subphylum (Pezizomycotina), rather than the yeast subphylum (Saccharomycotina), of the Ascomycota. These genes appear not to be the result of Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT), but to have been specifically retained by G. candidum after the filamentous fungi-yeasts split concomitant with the yeasts' genome contraction. We refer to these genes as SRAGs (Specifically Retained Ancestral Genes), having been lost by all or nearly all other yeasts, and thus contributing to the phenotypic specificity of lineages. SRAG functions include lipases consistent with a role in cheese making and novel endoglucanases associated with degradation of plant material. Similar gene retention was observed in three other distantly related yeasts representative of this ecologically diverse subphylum. The phenomenon thus appears to be widespread in the Saccharomycotina and argues that, alongside neo-functionalization following gene duplication and HGT, specific gene retention must be recognized as an important mechanism for generation of biodiversity and adaptation in yeasts.

Using the Genolevures sequencing data, we developed an expression micro-array for the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis consisting of 482 genes, mainly involved in central metabolism, compound transport facilitators and stress response. The array was validated using the LAC/GAL system. By comparing gene expression in the laboratory reference strain CBS2359 and in an industrial strain B1, we demonstrated the influence of two carbon sources, glucose and lactose, on the expression of genes involved in the respiratory and in the fermentative metabolic pathways. We also showed that the two strains, although both originating from dairies, display unexpected differences in gene expression on each type of carbon source.

Ice from Arctic glaciers contains large populations of yeasts. We studied 38 isolates from this environment, which were initially identified as Debaryomyces sp. related to Debaryomyces hansenii by sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domains of 26S rDNA. An analysis of the distribution of mitochondrial DNA insertions in the nuclear genome showed that 25 of these isolates were related to, but distinct from, D. hansenii. Sequence analysis of the ACT1 gene of these 25 isolates revealed that they formed three different types of putative hybrids. In particular, 23 putative hybrids carried an ACT1 sequence identical to that of three Debaryomyces strains, CBS 790, CLIB 660, CLIB 949, previously classified as associated with D. hansenii and an ACT1 sequence of an undescribed taxon. The latter sequence displayed between 22 and 27 bp divergence (2.6-3.2 %) over 841 bp from sequences of closely related Debaryomyces sp., suggesting that this new taxon very likely represents a novel species for which no pure strain is available. Sequence comparisons of CBS 790, CLIB 660, and CLIB 949 with related Debaryomyces type strains also revealed an important sequence divergence. The putative hybrids described in this study could be differentiated from non-hybrid isolates and other Debaryomyces species on the basis of their use of a number of carbon sources.

Background Yeasts belonging to the subphylum Saccharomycotina have been used for centuries in food processing and, more recently, biotechnology. Over the past few decades, these yeasts have also been studied in the interest of their potential to produce oil to replace fossil resources. Developing yeasts for massive oil production requires increasing yield and modifying the profiles of the fatty acids contained in the oil to satisfy specific technical requirements. For example, derivatives of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs, containing 6–14 carbons) are used for the production of biodiesels, cleaning products, lubricants and cosmetics. Few studies are available in the literature on the production of MCFAs in yeasts. Results We analyzed the MCFA content in Saccharomyces cerevisiae grown in various conditions. The results revealed that MCFAs preferentially accumulated when cells were grown on synthetic media with a high C/N ratio at low temperature (23 °C). Upon screening deletion mutant strains for genes encoding lipid droplet-associated proteins, we found two genes, LOA1 and TGL3, involved in MCFA homeostasis. A phylogenetic analysis on 16 Saccharomycotina species showed that fatty acid profiles differed drastically among yeasts. Interestingly, MCFAs are only present in post-whole genome duplication yeast species. Conclusions In this study, we produced original data on fatty acid diversity in yeasts. We demonstrated that yeasts are amenable to genetic and metabolic engineering to increase their MCFA production. Furthermore, we revealed that yeast lipid biodiversity has not been fully explored, but that yeasts likely harbor as-yet-undiscovered strains or enzymes that can contribute to the production of high-value fatty acids for green chemistry. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-015-0369-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Three yeast strains related to members of the genus Saccharomycopsis were isolated. One strain (CLIB 1310) was isolated from olive brines of fermented black olives in France and two strains (CLIB 1454 and CLIB 1455) were isolated from a plant in French Guiana. Sequence analyses based on the D1/D2 domains of the nuclear large subunit rRNA gene, small-subunit rRNA gene and partial EF-1α gene revealed that the strains represented two novel taxa exhibiting extensive sequence divergence from the previously described species of the genus Saccharomycopsis. Two novel species are described to accommodate these newly isolated strains: Saccharomycopsis olivae sp. nov. (type strain CLIB 1310T = CBS 12701T) and Saccharomycopsis guyanensis sp. nov. (type strain CLIB 1455T = CBS 12914T and strain CLIB 1454). Both strains CLIB 1454 and CLIB 1455T displayed identical sequences but differed in their ability to metabolize sorbitol and in their morphology on agar medium. Candida amapae, Candida lassensensis and Arthroascus babjevae belonging to the Saccharomycopsis clade, are reassigned to Saccharomycopsis as novel combinations.

We examined aspects of the URE2/[URE3] prion system in Kluyveromyces lactis, which lies on a different evolutionary branch from Saccharomyces. We first analysed the polymorphism of the prion-forming domain in 38 strains. Considerable differences were found between these two genera, with little variation within K. lactis. We then analysed the regulatory function of Ure2p, using a deletion of URE2. We assessed the deregulation of two reporter genes: DAL5 and GDH2. Both were derepressed in the mutant strain, as in Saccharomyces. Finally, we tried to obtain the [URE3] prion from K. lactis. Despite the use of many different experimental conditions, we were unable to obtain a prion from Ure2p. This finding calls into question the extent to which the prion form of Ure2p may be considered an evolutionary adaptation, instead suggesting that an exaptation phenomenon may be more likely than a continuous selection history.

A yeast strain was isolated from olive brines in a fermented black olive and olive oil manufacturing plant in the town of Nyons (France). On the basis of domains 1 and 2 (D1/D2) large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequence analyses, the strain CLIB 1303T was found to be closely related, but clearly distinct, from the three existing species of the genus Citeromyces: Citeromyces matritensis, Citeromyces siamensis and Citeromyces haiwaiiensis. Strain CLIB 1303T exhibited 6 bp, 7 bp and 12 bp divergences in the D1/D2 LSU rRNA gene with C. siamensis, C. matritensis and C. hawaiiensis, respectively. ITS region divergence amounted to more than 8 %, 4 % and 4.5 % with C. siamensis, C. matritensis and C. hawaiiensis, respectively, in addition to several indels. Like C. matritensis and C. siamensis strains, strain CLIB 1303T was shown to be halotolerant and osmotolerant. Phenotypically, strain CLIB 1303T can be distinguished from other species of the genus Citeromyces by its inability to assimilate trehalose. The strain CLIB 1303T ( = CBS 12700T) was assigned to a novel species, Citeromyces nyonsensis sp. nov.

the Consortium National de Recherche en Génomique (CNRG) to Génoscope, CNRS (GDR 2354, Génolevures), The computer framework was supported by the funding of the University of Bordeaux 1, the Aquitaine Région in the program "Génotypage et Génomique Comparée," and the ACI IMPBIO "Génolevures En Ligne."; International audience; Polyploidization is an important process in the evolution of eukaryotic genomes, but ensuing molecular mechanisms remain to be clarified. Autopolyploidization or whole-genome duplication events frequently are resolved in resulting lineages by the loss of single genes from most duplicated pairs, causing transient gene dosage imbalance and accelerating speciation through meiotic infertility. Allopolyploidization or formation of interspecies hybrids raises the problem of genetic incompatibility (Bateson-Dobzhansky-Muller effect) and may be resolved by the accumulation of mutational changes in resulting lineages. In this article, we show that an osmotolerant yeast species, Pichia sorbitophila, recently isolated in a concentrated sorbitol solution in industry, illustrates this last situation. Its genome is a mosaic of homologous and homeologous chromosomes, or parts thereof, that corresponds to a recently formed hybrid in the process of evolution. The respective parental contributions to this genome were characterized using existing variations in GC content. The genomic changes that occurred during the short period since hybrid formation were identified (e.g., loss of heterozygosity, unilateral loss of rDNA, reciprocal exchange) and distinguished from those undergone by the two parental genomes after separation from their common ancestor (i.e., NUMT (NUclear sequences of MiTochondrial origin) insertions, gene acquisitions, gene location movements, reciprocal translocation). We found that the physiological characteristics of this new yeast species are determined by specific but unequal contributions of its two parents, one of which could be identified as very closely related to an extant Pichia farinosa strain.

Among ascomycetous yeasts, the CTG clade is so-called because its constituent species translate CTG as serine instead of leucine. Though the biology of certain pathogenic species such as Candida albicans has been much studied, little is known about the life cycles of non-pathogen species of the CTG clade. Taking advantage of the recently obtained sequence of the biotechnological Millerozyma (Pichiasorbitophila) farinosa strain CBS 7064, we used MLST to better define phylogenic relationships between most of the Millerozyma farinosa strains available in public collections. This led to the constitution of four phylogenetic clades diverging from 8% to 15% at the DNA level and possibly constituting a species complex (M. farinosa) and to the proposal of two new species:Millerozyma miso sp. nov. CBS 2004(T) ( = CLIB 1230(T)) and Candida pseudofarinosa sp. nov.NCYC 386(T)( = CLIB 1231(T)). Further analysis showed that M. farinosa isolates exist as haploid and inter-clade hybrids. Despite the sequence divergence between the clades, secondary contacts after reproductive isolation were evidenced, as revealed by both introgression and mitochondria transfer between clades. We also showed that the inter-clade hybrids do sporulate to generate mainly viable vegetative diploid spores that are not the result of meiosis, and very rarely aneuploid spores possibly through the loss of heterozygosity during sporulation. Taken together, these results show that in this part of the CTG clade, non-Mendelian genetic exchanges occur at high rates through hybridization between divergent strains from distinct clades and subsequent massive loss of heterozygosity. This combination of mechanisms could constitute an alternative sexuality leading to an unsuspected biodiversity.

This study investigated the diversity and dynamics of yeasts involved in alcoholic fermentation of a traditional sorghum beer from Côte d'Ivoire, tchapalo. A total of 240 yeast strains were isolated from fermenting sorghum wort inoculated with dry yeast from two geographic regions of Côte d'Ivoire (Abidjan and Bondoukou). Initial molecular identification to the species level was carried out using RFLP of PCR-amplified internal transcribed spacers of rDNA (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2). Ten different profiles were obtained from the restriction of PCR products with the three endonucleases HaeIII, CfoI and HinfI. Sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domain of the 26S rDNA and the ACT1 gene allowed us to assign these groups to six different species: Saccharomyces cerevisiae-like, Candida tropicalis, Pichia kudriavzevii, Pichia kluyveri, Kodamaea ohmeri and Meyerozyma caribbica. The most frequent species associated with tchapalo fermentation was S. cerevisiae-like (87.36%), followed by C. tropicalis (5.45%) and M. caribbica (2.71%). S. cerevisiae-like strains were diploid heterozygotes and exhibited three to four nucleotides divergence from the type strain in the D1/D2 domain and several indels in the more discriminant sequence of the intron of the ACT1 gene. During the process, the yeast species isolated and their frequencies varied according to the geographic origin of the dry yeast. The occurrence of some species was sporadic and only two non-Saccharomyces species were found in the final product.

The entire genome of Lactobacillus casei BL23, a strain with probiotic properties, has been sequenced. The genomes of BL23 and the industrially used probiotic strain Shirota YIT 9029 (Yakult) seem to be very similar.

International audience; The microbial diversity of the surface of a commercial red-smear cheese, Livarot cheese, sold on the retail market was studied using culture-dependent and independent approaches. Forty yeasts and 40 bacteria from the cheese surface were collected, dereplicated using single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and identified using rRNA gene sequencing for the culture-dependent approach. The cultureindependent approach involved cloning and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and SSCP analysis from total DNA extracted from the cheese. The most dominant bacteria were Microbacterium gubbeenense, Leucobacter komagatae and Gram-negative bacteria from the Gamma-Proteobacteria class. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis was also used to study the cheese microbial diversity with class-level and specific rRNAtargeted probes for bacteria and yeasts, respectively. FISH analysis confirmed that Gamma-Proteobacteria were important microorganisms in this cheese. Four specific FISH probes targeting the dominant yeasts present in the cheese, Candida catenulata, Candida intermedia, Geotrichum spp. and Yarrowia lipolytica, were also designed and evaluated. These probes allowed the detection of these yeasts directly in cheese. The use of the rRNA gene-based approach combined with FISH analysis was useful to investigate the diversity of a surface microbial consortium from cheese.

The delineation of species among strains assigned to Debaryomyces hansenii was examined using a gene genealogies-based approach in order to compare spliceosomal intron sequences found in four housekeeping genes (ACT1, TUB2, RPL31 and RPL33). This revealed four distinct groups of strains containing, respectively, D. hansenii var. hansenii CBS 767(T), D. hansenii var. fabryi CBS 789(T), Candida famata var. flareri CBS 1796(T) (the anamorph of D. hansenii var. fabryi CBS 789(T)) and Debaryomyces tyrocola CBS 766(T), whose species status was no longer accepted. The sequence divergence between these groups, reaching in some cases over 20 %, unambiguously isolated the groups as separate taxa, leading to a proposal for the reinstatement of the originally described species D. hansenii CBS 767(T) and D. tyrocola CBS 766(T). The variety D. hansenii var. fabryi was further subdivided into two taxa, Debaryomyces fabryi CBS 789(T) and Candida flareri CBS 1796(T) (previously C. famata var. flareri and Blastodendrion flareri). The comparison of intron sequences therefore exposed cryptic species whose phenotypic traits are not distinguishable from known species, but which have significantly diverged from the genetic point of view. Hence, we describe the new taxon Debaryomyces macquariensis sp. nov. CBS 5571(T) is related to, but clearly distinct from, the Debaryomyces species mentioned above. The approach used in this work has also revealed the existence of populations within the newly delineated species D. hansenii and genetic exchanges between these populations, indicating an unexpected genetic diversity within this part of the genus Debaryomyces.