Open AccessCryolevonia gen. nov. and Cryolevonia schafbergensis sp. nov., a cryophilic yeast from ancient permafrost and melted sea ice
Author(s) -
Ana Paula Munhen de Pontes,
Joel Ruethi,
Beat Frey,
Andreia Aires,
Amanda Thomas,
David P. Overy,
Brad Halti,
Russell G. Kerr,
José Paulo Sampaio
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1466-5034
pISSN - 1466-5026
DOI - 10.1099/ijsem.0.004040
Subject(s) - biology , bay , phylogenetic tree , permafrost , yeast , genus , botany , hypha , ecology , oceanography , gene , genetics , geology
A cryophilic basidiomycetous yeast unable to grow at 18 °C or higher temperatures was isolated from a subsurface permafrost layer collected in the Eastern Swiss Alps and from melted sea ice collected in the Artic at Frobisher Bay, Nunavut, Canada. Phylogenetic analyses employing combined sequences of the D1/D2 domain and ITS region indicated that the two new isolates belong to the family Camptobasidiaceae of the class Microbotryomycetes but are distantly related to any of the currently recognized species and genera. Consequently, the novel genus Cryolevonia , and the novel species Cryolevonia schafbergensis (type strain PYCC 8347 T =CBS 16055 T ) are proposed to accommodate this cryophilic yeast. Although sparse hyphae and teliospore-like stuctures were observed upon prolonged incubation, a sexual cycle was not observed and therefore C. schafbergensis is documented solely from its asexual stage.