Cryptococcus tephrensis, sp.nov., and Cryptococcus heimaeyensis, sp.nov.; new anamorphic basidiomycetous yeast species from Iceland

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Microbiology
• Main Author: Vishniac, Helen S
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 2002
• Subjects: Cryptococcus victoriae; Iceland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/w02-041; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/w02-041

Two new species from Iceland are described on the basis of physiological profiles and sequence data from the D2 region of LSU rDNA: Cryptococcus tephrensis (type ICE99-1ToM Y5, ATCC MYA-1765, CBS 8935, GenBank AF317208) and Cryptococcus heimaeyensis (type ICE99-1ToM Y8, ATCC MYA-1759, CBS 8933, GenBank AF370717). The two new species are identifiable from sequence data and can be distinguished from their closest relative, Cryptococcus victoriae, by their higher maximum temperatures for growth, failure to utilize nitrate as sole nitrogen source, and utilization of cadaverine and ethylamine as sole nitrogen sources. Cryptococcus tephrensis is distinguishable from C. heimaeyensis by failure to grow on saccharate as sole source of carbon and energy.Key words: Iceland, Cryptococcus, soil yeasts.