The inter-generic fungicidal activity of Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous

Abstract

In this study, the existence of intra-specific and inter-generic fungicidal activity in Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous and Phaffia rhodozyma strains isolated from different regions of the earth was examined. Assays were performed under several culture conditions, showing that all the analyzed X. dendrorhous and P. rhodozyma strains have killing activity against Kloeckera apiculata, Rhodotorula sloffiae, and R. minuta. This activity was greater in rich media at a pH from 4.6 to 5.0. Extracellular protein extracts with fungicidal activity were obtained from cultures of all strains, and their characterization suggested that a protein of 33 kDa is the antifungal factor. According to peptide mass fingerprinting and an analysis of the results with the MASCOT search engine, this protein was identified as an aspartic protease. Additionally, extrachromosomal double-stranded DNA elements (dsDNAs) were observed in all X. dendrorhous and P. rhodozyma strains. Although there is a high variability, two dsDNAs of 5.4 and 6.8 kb are present in all strains.

Greetings from virologists to mycologists: A review outlining viruses that live in fungi

“…Similar toxins have been identified in many other Saccharomyces species (Fredericks et al, 2021). The association between the presence of a virus and production of killer toxins has been demonstrated in Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous, Cryptococcus aquaticus, and Cystofilobasidium infirmominiatum (Baeza et al, 2010;Golubev et al, 2003;Pfeiffer et al, 2004). Furthermore, Torulaspora delbrueckii and Wickerhamomyces anomalus strains with antimicrobial activities reportedly contain sequences corresponding to killer toxins, suggesting a potential relationship with mycoviruses (Abu-Mejdad et al, 2020).…”

Estudio de la producción de astaxantina por Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous = Study of astaxanthin production by Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous

“…1.1.4.3. Producción de antifúngico Se ha comprobado que X. dendrorhous tiene actividad antifúngica frente a Kloeckera apiculata (levadura ascomiceta responsable de la podredumbre ácida de la vid), Rhodotorula slooffiae, y R. minuta (levaduras basidiomicetas productoras de carotenoides, responsables de algunas micosis oportunistas), (Baeza et al, 2010).…”