Candida guilliermondii: biotechnological applications, perspectives for biological control, emerging clinical importance and recent advances in genetics

Abstract

Candida guilliermondii (teleomorph Meyerozyma guilliermondii) is an ascomycetous species belonging to the Saccharomycotina CTG clade which has been studied over the last 40 years due to its biotechnological interest, biological control potential and clinical importance. Such a wide range of applications in various areas of fundamental and applied scientific research has progressively made C. guilliermondii an attractive model for exploring the potential of yeast metabolic engineering as well as for elucidating new molecular events supporting pathogenicity and antifungal resistance. All these research fields now take advantage of the establishment of a useful molecular toolbox specifically dedicated to C. guilliermondii genetics including the construction of recipient strains, the development of selectable markers and reporter genes and optimization of transformation protocols. This area of study is further supported by the availability of the complete genome sequence of the reference strain ATCC 6260 and the creation of numerous databases dedicated to gene ontology annotation (metabolic pathways, virulence, and morphogenesis). These genetic tools and genomic resources represent essential prerequisites for further successful development of C. guilliermondii research in medical mycology and in biological control by facilitating the identification of the multiple factors that contribute to its pathogenic potential. These genetic and genomic advances should also expedite future practical uses of C. guilliermondii strains of biotechnological interest by opening a window into a better understanding of the biosynthetic pathways of valuable metabolites.

The Candida Pathogenic Species Complex

“…guilliermondii and C. lusitaniae are relatively rare causes of human infection. C. guilliermondii is of general interest to the biotechnology sector, as a producer both of riboflavin and of xylitol (Papon et al 2013b), and several molecular tools have been developed (Papon et al 2012). The species is haploid and fully sexual, which may facilitate genetic analysis.…”

Crecimiento dimórfico y caracterización molecular de Candida guillermondi aislado de Pannicum maximun

“…Así mismo, la prueba ureasa confirmó la presencia de dos grupos de microorganismos en el aislamiento, donde el resultado dio "ureasa positivo" lo cual indica presencia de ascomycetes, coincidiendo con C. guilliermondii quien precisamente es un ascomycete [2].…”

“…Candida guillermondi, también conocida como Pichia guilliermondii o Meyerozyma guilliermondii [1], es una levadura ascomicete ampliamente distribuida en el medio ambiente natural, es de fácil aislamiento a partir de frutas y bayas, con alto contenido de azúcar y también, es parte de la piel humana y la microflora mucosa [2].…”

Triggering Respirofermentative Metabolism in the Crabtree-Negative Yeast Pichia guilliermondii by Disrupting the CAT8 Gene

“…ichia guilliermondii is a Crabtree-negative yeast that is famous for the production of a wide variety of products, ranging from vitamins to biofuels, and is potentially a "new model yeast" (1). The current trend toward white biotechnology appears to favor the use of P. guilliermondii due to its extraordinary capacity to metabolize both C 5 and C 6 sugars from lignocellulosic hydrolysates and tolerate the harsh conditions of nondetoxified hydrolysate (1)(2)(3)(4).…”

“…The current trend toward white biotechnology appears to favor the use of P. guilliermondii due to its extraordinary capacity to metabolize both C 5 and C 6 sugars from lignocellulosic hydrolysates and tolerate the harsh conditions of nondetoxified hydrolysate (1)(2)(3)(4). Previously, a self-screened P. guilliermondii was used to produce ethanol from lignocellulosic hydrolysate in our lab; an ethanol titer of 56 g liter Ϫ1 and productivity higher than 1 g liter Ϫ1 h Ϫ1 were obtained in this experiment (4).…”