title: Starmerella neotropicalis f. a., sp. nov., a yeast species found in bees and pollen.
abstract: A novel yeast species was found repeatedly and in high cell densities in underground-nesting stingless bees of the species Melipona quinquefasciata and their provisions in northern Minas Gerais (Brazil). One additional strain was isolated from bee-collected pollen in Cuba. Phylogenetic analyses based on rRNA gene sequences (D1/D2 large subunit gene and internal transcribed spacer) indicated that the novel species belongs to the Starmerella clade and is most closely related to Candida (iter. nom. Starmerella) apicola. Growth reactions on carbon and nitrogen sources were typical of those observed in related species of the Starmerella clade. PCR-fingerprinting with mini- and microsatellite specific primers allowed the distinction of the novel species from Candida apicola, Candida bombi and a yet undescribed species represented by strain CBS 4353. On the basis of phylogenetic relationships, the novel species is assigned to the genus Starmerella despite the failure to observe sexual reproduction after extensive mating tests. We propose the name Starmerella neotropicalis f. a., sp. nov. (Mycobank MB 804285) and designate UFMG PST 09(T) ( = MUCL 53320(T) = CBS 12811(T)) as the type strain.
authors: Mycothèque de l'Université catholique de Louvain (BCCM/MUCL), Earth and Life Institute, Mycology, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 2, bte L7.05.06, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
authors: Heide-Marie
authors: HM
authors: Daniel
authors: Departamento de Microbiologia, ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, C.P. 486, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil.
authors: Carlos A
authors: CA
authors: Rosa
authors: Laboratório de Recursos Vegetais e Opoterápicos, Diretoria de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Fundação Ezequiel Dias, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30510-010, Brazil.
authors: Paula S São
authors: PSS
authors: Thiago-Calaça
authors: Departamento de Biodiversidade Evolução e Meio Ambiente, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG 35400-000, Brazil.
authors: Yasmine
authors: Y
authors: Antonini
authors: Laboratório de Recursos Vegetais e Opoterápicos, Diretoria de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento, Fundação Ezequiel Dias, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30510-010, Brazil.
authors: Esther M A F
authors: EMAF
authors: Bastos
authors: Mycothèque de l'Université catholique de Louvain (BCCM/MUCL), Earth and Life Institute, Mycology, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 2, bte L7.05.06, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Evrard
authors: Mycothèque de l'Université catholique de Louvain (BCCM/MUCL), Earth and Life Institute, Mycology, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 2, bte L7.05.06, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
authors: Stéphanie
authors: S
authors: Huret
authors: Instituto de Ecología y Sistematica (IES), Carrerata de Varona, km 3 ½ Capdevila, Boyeros, AP 8029, CP 10800, Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba.|Mycothèque de l'Université catholique de Louvain (BCCM/MUCL), Earth and Life Institute, Mycology, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 2, bte L7.05.06, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
authors: Abel
authors: A
authors: Fidalgo-Jiménez
authors: Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada.
authors: Marc-André
authors: MA
authors: Lachance
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001516:Bees / Q000382:microbiology*; D001938:Brazil; D003462:Cuba; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016533:Mycological Typing Techniques; D010802:Phylogeny; D011058:Pollen / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal