Scheffersomyces lignicola was first isolated from
samples of insect frass in Khao-Yai National Park, Nakhon
Ratchasima, Thailand (1). It was previously described as an asexual
species of the polyphyletic genus Candida, but based on
multilocus phylogenetic analysis the genus Scheffersomyces
was proposed to accommodate Sc. lignicola (1,2). In
addition to the ability to ferment xylose, this species is able to
assimilate and ferment cellobiose (3). This is interesting because
this sugar is a competitive inhibitor of cellulases and impairs the
saccharification process of lignocellulosic materials in ethanol
fuel production (3, 4).
References:
(1) Jindamorakot, S., Limtong, S., Yongmanitchai, W.,
Tuntirungkij, M., Potacharoen, W., Kawasaki, H., & Nakase, T.
(2007). Two new anamorphic yeasts, Candida thailandica sp.
nov. and Candida lignicola sp. nov., isolated from insect
frass in Thailand. FEMS Yeast Research, 7(8), 1409-1414.
(2) Urbina H & Blackwell M. (2012). Multilocus Phylogenetic
Study of the Scheffersomyces Yeast Clade and
Characterization of the N-Terminal Region of Xylose Reductase Gene.
PLOS One. 7(6):e39128.
(3) Santos, R. O., Cadete, R. M., Badotti, F., Mouro, A.,
Wallheim, D. O., Gomes, F. C., Stambuk B., Lachance, MA. &
Rosa, C. A. (2011). Candida queiroziae sp. nov., a
cellobiose-fermenting yeast species isolated from rotting wood in
Atlantic Rain Forest. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, 99(3),
635-642.
(4) Cadete, R. M., Melo, M. A., Lopes, M. R., Pereira, G. M.,
Zilli, J. E., Vital, M. J., Gomes, F. C., Lachance, MA.,
& Rosa, C. A. (2012). Candida amazonensis sp. nov., an
ascomycetous yeast isolated from rotting wood in the Amazonian
forest. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol, 62(Pt_6), 1438-1440.
