Yarrowia lipolytica: a beneficious yeast in biotechnology as a rare opportunistic fungal pathogen: a minireview

Abstract

Yarrowia lipolytica is one of the most studied “non-conventional” yeast species capable of synthesizing a wide group of valuable metabolites, in particular lipases and other hydrolytic enzymes, microbial oil, citric acid, erythritol and γ-decalactone. Processes based on the yeast have GRAS status (“generally recognized as safe”) given by Food and Drug Administration. The majority of research communications regarding to Y. lipolytica claim that the yeast species is non-pathogenic. In spite of that, Y. lipolytica, like other fungal species, can cause infections in immunocompromised and critically ill patients. The yeast possess features that facilitate invasion of the host cell (particularly production of hydrolytic enzymes), as well as the protection of the own cells, such as biofilm formation. The aim of this study was to present well-known yeast species Y. lipolytica as a rare opportunistic fungal pathogen. Possible pathogenicity and epidemiology of this yeast species were discussed. Antifungal drugs susceptibility and increasing resistance to azoles in Y. lipolytica yeasts were also presented.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s11274-018-2583-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The trans-kingdom battle between donor and recipient gut microbiome influences fecal microbiota transplantation outcome

“…Moreover, Yarrowia lipolytica has been vastly studied as a non-conventional yeast species capable of synthesizing a group of metabolites, in particular lipases and other hydrolytic enzymes 59 . These opportunistic fungal pathogens can cause infections in immunocompromised and critically ill patients 60 – 62 . To overcome this challenge, treatment targeted at these fungal elements prior to FMT may potentially enhance treatment efficacy.…”

Statistical evaluation of growth parameters in biofuel waste as a culture medium for improved production of single cell protein and amino acids by Yarrowia lipolytica

“…It is found as living cells in many processed foods such as cheese, mayonnaise, and meat (Groenewald et al 2013). Living cells of Y. lipolytica are a rare opportunistic fungal pathogen only in patients with compromised immunity and those with catheters (Zieniuk and Fabiszewska 2019). Indeed, several production processes utilizing Y. lipolytica have been granted the "Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS)" status by the US FDA (Groenewald et al 2013;Zieniuk and Fabiszewska 2019).…”

“…Living cells of Y. lipolytica are a rare opportunistic fungal pathogen only in patients with compromised immunity and those with catheters (Zieniuk and Fabiszewska 2019). Indeed, several production processes utilizing Y. lipolytica have been granted the "Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS)" status by the US FDA (Groenewald et al 2013;Zieniuk and Fabiszewska 2019). Nutritional Y. lipolytica biomass can only be added to the regular human diet after killing cells by drying to help solve the problem of food shortages in rapidly growing populations, especially in developing countries like India (Jach et al 2017;Jach and Serefko 2018).…”

Carotenoid-Producing Yeasts: Identification and Characteristics of Environmental Isolates with a Valuable Extracellular Enzymatic Activity

“…Namely, the strains identified as R. mucilaginosa WUT10 and WUT60, unlike WUT167, exhibited growth up to 30 • C. Similarly, for two Sporobolomyces roseus strains, the maximum growth temperature varied between 25 • C and 30 • C for WUT61 and WUT182, respectively. Although many enzymes with industrial applications are produced using yeasts [28][29][30], new and safe sources of enzyme preparations are still being sought. Therefore, the ability of newly isolated strains to produce extracellular enzymes was also verified ( Table 2).…”