PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “yeast strain development”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Yeast colonisation & fungaemia in preterm neonates in a tertiary care centre.

Seventy consecutive preterm neonates who stayed in the hospital for more than seven days between March and October 1996, were studied for colonisation at oral, umbilical, groin, and rectal areas and for fungaemia. Overall, 71.4 per cent of the neonates were colonised and colonisation occurred within 24 h in 38 per cent preterm neonates. Neonates weighing less than 1500 g were colonised more frequently at more than one site and had higher load of yeast. Candida albicans (19%), Pichia (Hansenula) anomala (17.5%), C. tropicalis (13.2%), C. parapsilosis (12.3%) and Trichosporon cutaneum (10.0%) were the predominant colonising yeasts. Fungaemia was detected in 22.8 per cent of preterm neonates with predominance of P. anomala fungaemia (62.5%). Prematurity, male sex, broad spectrum antibiotic therapy, intubation and higher colonising rate were identified as significant risk factors for development of fungaemia. Except one strain of C. tropicalis, all yeast strains were sensitive to commonly used systemic antifungal agents. Study highlights the importance of routine surveillance of yeast colonisation of preterm neonates with identifying possible risk factors.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

[Utilization of molecular techniques for the characterization of wine yeasts and the study of the wine-making process].

The study of the fermentation process in the Alicante region allowed us to conclude that adverse climatic conditions could be responsible for deficient wine-making with serious problems arising fermentations, usually causing incomplete fermentation. In order to avoid these problems, we selected a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain, namely T73, isolated in the same Alicante region, to be used to perform controlled fermentations. The use of selected strains in the wine-making process requires the development of characterization techniques that can clearly differentiate between the inoculated strain and the wild strains present in the musts. In order to differentiate strains present in the wine ecosystems, an extensive survey of different methods of yeast strains identification has been carried out. However, these techniques are very complex to be used in industry. For this reason, we have developed a new, simple, inexpensive and rapid method based on mitochondrial DNA restriction analysis. This technique was applied to the control of wine fermentations conducted by active dry yeasts. This molecular approach allows us to understand the role of the inoculated dry yeast strain and that of the natural S. cerevisiae flora during wine fermentation.

DNA, Fungal↗

Use of whey protein beads as a new carrier system for recombinant yeasts in human digestive tract.

A new immobilizing protocol using whey protein isolates was developed to entrap recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The model yeast strain expresses the heterologous P45073A1 that converts trans-cinnamic acid into p-coumaric acid. Beads resulted from a cold-induced gelation of a whey protein solution (10%) containing yeasts (7.5 x 10(7)cells ml(-1)) into 0.1M CaCl(2). The viability and growth capability of yeasts were not altered by our entrapment process. The release and activity of immobilized yeasts were studied in simulated human gastric conditions. During the first 60 min of digestion, 2.2+/-0.9% (n=3) of initial entrapped yeasts were recovered in the gastric medium suggesting that beads should cross the gastric barrier in human. The P45073A1 activity of entrapped yeasts remained significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of free ones throughout digestion (trans-cinnamic acid conversion rate of 63.4+/-1.6% versus 51.5+/-1.8% (n=3) at 120 min). The protein matrix seemed to create a microenvironment favoring the activity of yeasts in the stringent gastric conditions. These results open up new opportunities for the development of drug delivery system using recombinant yeasts entrapped in whey protein beads. The main potential medical applications include biodetoxication or the correction of digestive enzyme deficiencies.

Artificial Organs↗

Paracoccidioidomycosis in nude mice: presence of filamentous forms of the fungus.

Congenitally athymic nude mice (nu/nu) and their phenotypically normal littermates (nu/+) were intraperitoneally infected with yeast cells of a strain of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. The nude mice developed a severe and generalized infection with an intense parasitism of several organs, accompanied by a low-grade of tissue reaction. The lesions were characterized by abundant yeast-like cells of the fungus, and in some animals, numerous hyphal forms could be well visualized. In control animals, infection was moderate, almost exclusively restricted to the area of inoculation, and the lesions presented few parasites surrounded by an inflammatory response. Filamentous forms of the fungus were never encountered in these animals.

Animals↗

A simple synthetic liquid medium for development of yeast and mycelial form of pathogenic species of Candida.

Thirty two known strains of Candida species were used for evaluation of glucose, serine, ornithine, methionine, GSOM medium and its comparison with Lee's medium for the production of yeast and mycelial phase at different temperatures and on prolonged incubation. No mycelial form was observed when various Candida species in GSOM and Lee's medium were incubated at 25 degrees C up to 72 hours. Percentage of mycelial forming cells of Candida species were more in GSOM medium than Lee's medium in 48 hours at 37 degrees C. Among various species of Candida, albicans and C. parapsilosis showed maximum mycelium formation. GSOM medium can be used for growing Candida species particularly C. albicans in mycelial phase.

Candida↗

Development of a green fluorescent protein reporter for a yeast genotoxicity biosensor.

A reporter system, constructed for a laboratory screen for new genes involved in DNA repair in the brewer's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been developed for use in a genotoxicity biosensor. The strain produces green fluorescent protein (yEGFP) when DNA damage has occurred. yEGFP is codon optimised for yeasts. The reporter does not respond to chemicals which delay mitosis, and responds appropriately to the genetic regulation of DNA repair. Data is presented which demonstrate strain improvements appropriate to biosensor technology: improved signal to noise ratio, ease of data collection and uncomplicated material handling.

Biosensing Techniques↗

Conversion of homothallic yeast to heterothallism through HO gene disruption.

A simple method was developed for the conversion of homothallic Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strains to heterothallism through HO gene disruption. An integrative ho::neo disrupted allele was constructed by cloning a dominant selectable marker, the bacterial neo gene, within the HO gene. Transformation of a homothallic diploid S. cerevisiae strain with plasmid DNA containing the ho::neo allele yielded G418-resistant yeast transformants in which one of the HO alleles was replaced by the disrupted ho::neo allele. Meiotic tetrad analysis of four-spored asci from these G418-resistant transformants gave rise to haploid heterothallic and diploid homothallic tetrad progeny. The presence of the ho::neo and HO alleles in the heterothallic and homothallic progeny was confirmed by Southern-blot analysis.

Alleles↗

Invertase gene (SUC2) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a dominant marker for transformation of Pichia pastoris.

A two-step method for the selection of transformants of prototrophic industrial strains of the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris has been developed. This method is based on our observation that P. pastoris cannot use sucrose as the sole carbon source (Suc-) and that introduction of the invertase gene (SUC2) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae renders P. pastoris Suc+. P. pastoris was transformed with a plasmid which contains the SUC2 gene of S. cerevisiae and an autonomously replicating sequence PARS1 from P. pastoris. The transformants were initially allowed to regenerate on medium containing dextrose and the regenerated cells were pooled and plated on sucrose medium to screen for Suc+ transformants. It was shown that the Suc+ transformants of P. pastoris with the autonomously replicating plasmid were highly unstable with respect to the plasmid maintenance, even when grown on sucrose as the sole carbon and energy source. This high instability was attributed to an efficient cross-feeding by Suc- segregants on glucose and fructose generated due to hydrolysis of sucrose by the invertase enzyme secreted by Suc+ cells. Spontaneous integration of the plasmid DNA resulting in a stable Suc+ phenotype was also observed. However, stable Suc+ transformants were obtained more readily by integration of SUC2 into P. pastoris genome following transformation with a linearized plasmid with the ends homologous to P. pastoris HIS4 locus. All such integrants were completely stable for Suc+ phenotype after 20 generations of growth in a nonselective medium.

Animals↗

Overexpression of B-type cyclins alters chromosomal segregation.

To identify genes which overexpression results into chromosomal instability (CIN), we developed a biological approach based on a yeast indicator strain in which CIN can be detected by a sectoring phenotype. Screening in this strain of a yeast genomic library cloned into a high copy vector led us to identify, among the clones generating 100% of sectoring colonies, Clb5, one of the six B-type cyclins present in yeast. Overexpression of cyclin B2 and cyclin B1, the two human homologs of Clb5, in the CIN indicator strain resulted also into a sectoring phenotype and induced, like overexpression of Clb5, an abnormal sensitivity to benomyl, indicating that overexpression of B-type cyclins alters the spindle checkpoint. In a series of 38 primary colorectal cancers, we detected in five tumors (13%) an accumulation of cyclin B1, which was neither related to mRNA overexpression nor to mutation within the coding region, and in five other tumors (13%) a 2-10-fold increase of cyclin B2 mRNA which was not related to gene amplification. These results suggest that overexpression of cyclins B, resulting from different mechanisms, could contribute, through an alteration of the spindle checkpoint, to the chromosomal instability observed in cancer.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Interactions of saprophytic yeasts with a nor mutant of Aspergillus flavus.

The nor mutant of Aspergillus flavus has a defective norsolorinic acid reductase, and thus the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway is blocked, resulting in the accumulation of norsolorinic acid, a bright red-orange pigment. We developed a visual agar plate assay to monitor yeast strains for their ability to inhibit aflatoxin production by visually scoring the accumulation of this pigment of the nor mutant. We identified yeast strains that reduced the red-orange pigment accumulation in the nor mutant. These yeasts also reduced aflatoxin accumulation by a toxigenic strain of A. flavus. These yeasts may be useful for reducing aflatoxin contamination of food commodities.

Aflatoxins↗

[Effect on the fertility of female Drosophila of sterol metabolism in an ecological-genetic yeast-Drosophila system].

The consequences of sterol deficiency in feeding of adult Drosophila females have been studied. Feeding of Drosophila on nys 1 mutant strain yeast leads to significant increase of non-developed eggs in Drosophila females. The effect of sterol deficiency on oogenesis in virgin and fertilized females has been estimated using different regimens of feeding. Possible mechanisms of arising of fertility defects are discussed.

Animals↗

Developing a biosensor for estrogens in water samples: study of the real-time response of live cells of the estrogen-sensitive yeast strain RMY/ER-ERE using fluorescence microscopy.

Using a fluorescein di-beta-D-galactopyranoside (FDG) substrate we show that in live cells of an estrogen-sensitive yeast strain RMY/ER-ERE with human estrogen receptor (ERalpha) gene and the lacZ gene which encodes beta-galactosidase, the uptake of 17beta-estradiol (E2) and the subsequent production of beta-galactosidase enzyme occur quite rapidly, with maximal enzyme-catalyzed product formation evident after about 30 min of exposure to E2. This finding which agrees with the well-known rates of enzyme-catalyzed reactions could have implications for shortening the duration of environmental sample screening and monitoring regimes using yeast-based estrogen assays, and the development of biosensors for environmental estrogens to complement quantification methods.

Biological Assay↗

[Cloning of structural genes involved in riboflavin synthesis of the yeast Candida famata].

The riboflavin overproducing mutants of the flavinogenic yeast Candida famata isolated by conventional selection methods are used for the industrial production of vitamin B2. Recently, a transformation system was developed for C. famata using the leu2 mutant as a recipient strain and Saccharomyces cerevislae LEU2 gene as a selective marker. In this paper the cloning of C. famata genes for riboflavin synthesis on the basis of developed transformation system for this yeast species is described. Riboflavin autotrophic mutants were isolated from a previously selected C. famata leu2 strain. C. famata genomic DNA library was constructed and used for cloning of the corresponding structural genes for riboflavin synthesis by complementation of the growth defects on a medium without leucine and riboflavin. As a result, the DNA fragments harboring genes RIB1, RIB2, RIB5, RIB6 and RIB7 encoding GTP cyclohydrolase, reductase, dimethylribityllumazine synthase, dihydroxybutanone phosphate synthase and riboflavin synthase, were isolated and subsequently subcloned to the smallest possible fragments. The plasmids with these genes successfully complemented riboflavin auxotrophies of the corresponding mutants of another flavinogenic yeast Pichia guilliermondii. This suggested that C. famata structural genes for riboflavin synthesis and not some of the supressor genes were cloned.

Candida↗

Evidence for two cell division cycle (CDC) genes that govern yeast bud emergence in the pathogenic fungus Wangiella dermatitidis.

Strains Mc2 and Mc3 are morphological mutants of the melanized, pathogenic fungus Wangiella dermatitidis. These strains possess temperature-sensitive (ts) mutations designated mcm2 and mcm3, respectively. At the restrictive temperature (37 degrees C), uninucleate yeast cells of strains Mc2 and Mc3 cease budding and initiate an isotropic mode of cellular development, which is reflected in the formation of a multicellular and multinucleate morphology. Because W. dermatitidis either lacks or has an undiscovered sexual cycle, parasexual methods of analysis were used to confirm that mcm2 and mcm3 define separate bud emergence control genes in the wild-type strain. Spheroplasts of albino auxotrophs derived from strains Mc2 and Mc3 were fused and then regenerated on minimal medium. The resulting fusion products grew as darkly pigmented, prototrophic colonies. When incubated at 37 degrees C, all fusion products exhibited polarized growth predominantly as uninucleate, budding yeasts and less frequently as pseudohyphae and moniliform hyphae. Subsequent analysis of cultures derived from albino, ts segregants, which were induced from fusion products by using methyl benzimidazole-2-yl-carbamate, revealed three types of cell populations. Two resembled those expressed by strain Mc2 or Mc3. The third consisted of a cell population unlike the former, suggesting the presence of both ts mutations in all cells. These results imply that yeast development in the fusion products resulted from intergenic complementation of mcm2 and mcm3, i.e., they are nonallelic. Because mcm2 and mcm3 are equivalent to certain cdc lesions in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we have renamed the analogous genes defined by the mutations in W. dermatitidis as CDC1 and CDC2. To our knowledge, these are the first CDC genes identified in a dematiaceous fungus.

Alleles↗

The development of low temperature inactive (Lti) baker's yeast.

The construction of a novel baker's yeast variety via traditional genetic techniques is described. The phenotype was designated "Lti" ("Low temperature inactive"). Lti mutations with the desired characteristics within a genetically well-defined haploid laboratory strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were isolated, and two different approaches were taken to obtain baker's yeast strains, which exhibit reduced fermenting activity at refrigeration temperatures. In a first approach, a chosen Lti strain carrying mutation lti9 was combined with other laboratory strains carrying defined MAL alleles. In a second approach, the same lti mutation was introduced in the genetic background of polyploid commercial baker's yeast strains that harbor important "industrial" properties. Lti strains arising from both approaches were characterized with specifically developed screening procedures. Strains of the "academic" Lti strain family displayed between 85% and 92% of the biomass yield of a commercial reference strain, whereas strains of the "industrial" Lti strain family showed a variation between 60% and 115%. Lti strains from both families varied strongly among each other in their activity in model doughs: at 8 degrees C they displayed activities between 5% and 30%, and at 30 degrees C between 40% and 113% of a commercial reference baker's yeast strain.

Biomass↗

Molecular basis for anaerobic growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on xylose, investigated by global gene expression and metabolic flux analysis.

Yeast xylose metabolism is generally considered to be restricted to respirative conditions because the two-step oxidoreductase reactions from xylose to xylulose impose an anaerobic redox imbalance. We have recently developed, however, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain that is at present the only known yeast capable of anaerobic growth on xylose alone. Using transcriptome analysis of aerobic chemostat cultures grown on xylose-glucose mixtures and xylose alone, as well as a combination of global gene expression and metabolic flux analysis of anaerobic chemostat cultures grown on xylose-glucose mixtures, we identified the distinguishing characteristics of this unique phenotype. First, the transcript levels and metabolic fluxes throughout central carbon metabolism were significantly higher than those in the parent strain, and they were most pronounced in the xylose-specific, pentose phosphate, and glycerol pathways. Second, differential expression of many genes involved in redox metabolism indicates that increased cytosolic NADPH formation and NADH consumption enable a higher flux through the two-step oxidoreductase reaction of xylose to xylulose in the mutant. Redox balancing is apparently still a problem in this strain, since anaerobic growth on xylose could be improved further by providing acetoin as an external NADH sink. This improved growth was accompanied by an increased ATP production rate and was not accompanied by higher rates of xylose uptake or cytosolic NADPH production. We concluded that anaerobic growth of the yeast on xylose is ultimately limited by the rate of ATP production and not by the redox balance per se, although the redox imbalance, in turn, limits ATP production.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Yeast increases resistance in Arabidopsis against Pseudomonas syringae and Botrytis cinerea by salicylic acid-dependent as well as -independent mechanisms.

Cell-wall and glucopeptide components of yeast have been reported to exhibit elicitor activity. The mode of action of defense activation by yeast is not known so far. In this study, we used the model plant Arabidopsis to investigate the activation of defense responses by yeast, the effect on resistance against different pathogens, and the mode of action. Treatment of Arabidopsis plants with an autoclaved yeast suspension induced the expression of systemic acquired resistance-related genes and accumulation of the phytoalexin camalexin. Symptom development and bacterial growth after infection with a virulent strain of the pathogen Pseudomonas syringae was reduced in yeast-pretreated plants. No protection was detectable in mutants affected in the salicylate pathway, while mutants in the jasmonate or camalexin pathway were protected by yeast, indicating that the salicylate pathway is necessary for the yeast-induced resistance against P. syringae. Yeast also reduced symptom development after challenge with Botrytis cinerea. This protection was detectable in all mutants tested, indicating that it is independent of the salicylate, jasmonate, and camalexin pathway.

Arabidopsis↗

Cloning of Escherichia coli lacZ and lacY genes and their expression in Gluconobacter oxydans and Acetobacter liquefaciens.

An efficient transformation protocol for Gluconobacter oxydans and Acetobacter liquefaciens strains was developed by preparation of electrocompetent cells grown on yeast extract-ethanol medium. Plasmid pBBR122 was used as broad-host-range vector to clone the Escherichia coli lacZY genes in G. oxydans and A. liquefaciens. Although both lac genes were functionally expressed in both acetic acid bacteria, only a few transformants were able to grow on lactose. However, this ability strictly depended on the presence of a plasmid expressing both lac genes. Mutations in the plasmids and/or in the chromosome were excluded as the cause of growth ability on lactose.

Acetobacter↗