Nakazawaea Odontotermitis f.a., sp. nov., a Novel Yeast Isolated from the Gut of Odontotermes Horni in India.

Three strains SMT1.3, SMT1.10, and SMT2.2, representing a novel asexual ascomycetous yeast species, were isolated from the gut of a termite Odontotermes horni in Maharashtra, India. Phylogenetic analyses of the LSU, ITS and SSU sequences revealed that they belonged to the genus Nakazawaea, with N. siamensis as the closest relative. The new species differed from the type strain of N. siamensis (DMKU-RK467T) by 1.93% nucleotide substitutions in the D1/D2 region of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene, 0.53% nucleotide substitutions in the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene and 12.6% nucleotide substitutions in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Notable physiological differences were also observed between N. siamensis and the new species. Hence, the species Nakazawaea odontotermitis f.a., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SMT1.3T (MTCC 13105 = NFCCI 5011). The GenBank accession numbers of the LSU and ITS and SSU sequences of Nakazawaea odontotermitis f.a., sp. nov. are MZ234240, MZ234239 and OK384663. The MycoBank number is MB 841926.

Clavispora santaluciae f.a., sp. nov., a novel ascomycetous yeast species isolated from grapes

During a study of yeast diversity in Azorean vineyards, four strains were isolated which were found to represent a novel yeast species based on the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS1-5.8S–ITS2) and of the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene, together with their physiological characteristics. An additional strain isolated from Drosophila suzukii in Italy had identical D1/D2 sequences and very similar ITS regions (five nucleotide substitutions) to the Azorean strains. Phylogenetic analysis using sequences of the ITS region and D1/D2 domain showed that the five strains are closely related to Clavispora lusitaniae, although with 56 nucleotide differences in the D2 domain. Intraspecies variation revealed between two and five nucleotide differences, considering the five strains of Clavispora santaluciae. Some phenotypic discrepancies support the separation of the new species from their closely related ones, such as the inability to grow at temperatures above 35 °C, to produce acetic acid and the capacity to assimilate starch. Neither conjugations nor ascospore formation were observed in any of the strains. The name Clavispora santaluciae f.a., sp. nov., is proposed to accommodate the above noted five strains (holotype, CBS 16465T; MycoBank no., MB 835794).

Savitreea pentosicarens gen. nov., sp. nov., a yeast species in the family Saccharomycetaceae isolated from a grease trap

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).

Martininema semicordatae n. sp. (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) associated with Ficus semicordata in China

Summary A new nematode species was recovered from the syconia of Ficus semicordata from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Yunnan Province, China. It is described herein as Martininema semicordatae n. sp. and is characterised by having the combined characters of a long post-vulval uterine sac, excretory pore located at nerve ring level, amoeboid sperm, three pairs of subventral papillae on the male tail, rounded male tail tip with mucron, absence of gubernaculum (= apophysis), and a recurved, rose-thorn-shaped spicule lacking a terminal cucullus. Martininema semicordatae n. sp. differs from other sequenced species by differences in the partial small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene and D2-D3 expansion segments of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene. Phylogenetic analysis with LSU D2-D3 expansion segment sequences suggested that M. semicordatae n. sp. is clustered in a highly supported monophyletic clade with M. guangzhouense, M. fistulosus and M. baculum, and shares a common ancestor with these three species.

Molecular Characterization of Clistobothrium sp. Viable Plerocercoids in Fresh Longfin Inshore Squid (Doryteuthis pealeii) and Implications for Cephalopod Inspection

Cephalopods, an appreciated seafood product, are common hosts of marine cestodes. The aim of this work is to report visible alive plerocercoids in longfin inshore squid (Doryteuthis pealeii), a cephalopod species commercialized as fresh and whole in Italy. Seventy D. pealeii from the Northwest Atlantic (FAO area 21) were collected and visually inspected. In total, 18 plerocercoid larvae were found in the viscera of 10 host specimens (P: 14.3% 95% CI 7.1–24.7; MI: 1.8, MA: 0.26; range 1–4) and molecularly analyzed targeting the variable D2 region of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. The molecular characterization allowed to identify all the plerocercoids as Clistobothrium sp., a cestode of the Phyllobothriidae family with Lamnidae sharks as definitive hosts, and cephalopods as second intermediate hosts. These findings represent the first molecular record of Clistobothrium sp. in D. pealeii, thus contributing to elucidate its poorly known life cycle. Even if not affecting consumer’s health, these visible parasites may represent a reason for disgust for consumers. Therefore, the results suggest that Food Business Operators should also check for the presence of these visible parasites during inspection and underline the importance of a correct consumers’ education.

Blastobotrys baotianmanensis sp. nov. and Blastobotrys xishuangbannaensis f.a., sp. nov., two novel yeast species associated with insects and rotting wood

Five yeast strains were isolated from the gut of the groundbeetle Pterostichus gebleri and rotting wood, which were collected from two different localities in China. These strains were identified as representing two novel species of the genus Blastobotrys through comparison of sequences in the D1/D2 domains of the LSU rRNA gene and other taxonomic characteristics. Blastobotrys baotianmanensis sp. nov. produces two to three spherical ascospores per ascus, and is most closely related to the type strains of B. elegans, B. capitulata, B. arbuscula, and an undescribed species represented by strain BG02-7-20-006A-3-1. Blastobotrys baotianmanensis sp. nov. differed from these strains by 3.6–8.4 % divergence (21–46 substitutions and 0–4 gaps) in the D1/D2 sequences. Blastobotrys xishuangbannaensis f.a., sp. nov. is closely related to B. nivea, B. elegans and B. aristata but the formation of ascospores was not observed on various sporulation media, and it differed from its relatives by 6.2–8.5 % divergence (34–43 substitutions and 2–6 gaps) in the D1/D2 sequences. The holotype of Blastobotrys baotianmanensis sp. nov. is NYNU 1581 and the holotype of Blastobotrys xishuangbannaensis f.a., sp. nov. is NYNU 181030.

Papiliotrema maritimi f.a. sp. nov., a new tremellaceous yeast species associated to macrophytes in a Marshland of South Brazil

One new yeast species, Papiliotrema maritimi sp. nov., is being proposed to be suitable into the Rhynchogastremataceae family, belonging to the Tremellales clade. This new species is related to six others from the Papiliotrema genus: P. taeanensis, P. siamense, P. perniciosus, P. nemorosus, P. bandonii, P. japonica and P. fuscus. The novel species is proposed based on the phylogenetic species concept through analysis of the D1/D2 region, part of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. A total of 11 strains of Papiliotrema maritimi sp. nov. were obtained from macrophytes leaves collected in south Brazil. Papiliotrema maritimi sp. nov. differs by 12, 15, 25, 25, 25 and 29 substitutions in the D1/D2 domain from the related species P. fuscus, P. japonica, P. siamense, P. nemorosus, P. bandonii, and P. perniciosus, respectively. Concerning the ITS region, there are 11 substitutions and 52 or more substitutions when compared to P. teanensis and its closest relatives. The type strain of Papiliotrema maritimi sp. nov. is UFMG-CM-Y6048. The MycoBank number for Papiliotrema maritimi sp. nov. is MB 835603.

Teunia siamensis f.a., sp. nov., a novel tremellaceous yeast species isolated from soil in a secondary peat swamp forest area

The strain DMKU-XD44, representing an anamorphic novel yeast species, was isolated from soil collected in a peat swamp forest (PSF) area in Rayong Botanical Garden in eastern Thailand. On the basis of sequence analysis of the D1/D2 region of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, Teunia cuniculi CBS 10309T was the most closely related species. The novel species differed from the T. cuniculi type by 2.5 % (14 nucleotide substitutions) in the D1/D2 region of the LSU rRNA gene and by 8.0 % (40 nucleotide substitutions) in the ITS region. The results of a phylogenetic analysis, based on the combined sequences of the ITS region and the D1/D2 region, indicated that DMKU-XD44 represents a member of the Teunia clade in the Cryptococcaceae (Tremellales, Tremellomycetes, Agaricomycotina and Basidiomycota) and is phylogenetically distinct from other species of the genus Teunia in the clade. Therefore, DMKU-XD44 represents a novel species of the genus Teunia. The name Teunia siamensis f.a., sp. nov. is proposed. The holotype is DMKU-XD44, while the MycoBank number is MB 832816.

Kluyveromyces osmophilus is not a synonym of Zygosaccharomyces mellis; reinstatement as Zygosaccharomyces osmophilus comb. nov.

Kluyveromyces osmophilus, a single-strain species isolated from Mozambique sugar, has been treated a synonym of Zygosaccharomyces mellis. Analyses of D1/D2 LSU rRNA gene sequences confirmed that the species belongs to the genus Zygosaccharomyces but showed it to be distinct from strains of Z. mellis. During studies of yeasts associated with stingless bees in Brazil, nine additional isolates of the species were obtained from unripe and ripe honey and pollen of Scaptotrigona cfr. bipunctata, as well as ripe honey of Tetragonisca angustula. The D1/D2 sequences of the Brazilian isolates were identical to those of the type strain of K. osmophilus CBS 5499 (=ATCC 22027), indicating that they represent the same species. Phylogenomic analyses using 4038 orthologous genes support the reinstatement of K. osmophilus as a member of the genus Zygosaccharomyces. We, therefore, propose the name Zygosaccharomyces osmophilus comb. nov. (lectotype ATCC 22027; MycoBank no. MB 833739).