Psychrophilic yeasts in glacial environments of Alpine glaciers

FEMS Microbiol Ecol. 2008 Jan;63(1):73-83. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2007.00409.x.

Abstract

The presence of psychrophilic yeasts in supra- and subglacial sediments, ice and meltwater collected from two glaciers of the Italian Alps (Forni and Sforzellina-Ortles-Cevedale group) was investigated. After incubation at 4 degrees C, subglacial sediments contained from 1.3 x 10(3) to 9.6 x 10(3) CFU of yeasts g(-1). The number of yeast cells in supraglacial sediments was c. 10-100-fold lower. A significant proportion of isolated yeasts exhibited one or more extracellular enzymatic activities (starch-degrading, lipolytic, esterolytic, proteolytic and pectinolytic activity) at 4 degrees C. Selected isolates were able to grow at 2 degrees C under laboratory-simulated in situ conditions. In all, 106 isolated yeasts were identified by MSP-PCR fingerprinting and 26S rRNA gene sequencing of the D1/D2 region as belonging to 10 species: Aureobasidium pullulans, Cryptococcus gilvescens (over 50% of the total), Cryptococcus terricolus, Mrakia gelida, Naganishia globosa, Rhodotorula glacialis, Rhodotorula psychrophenolica, Rhodotorula bacarum, Rhodotorula creatinivora and Rhodotorula laryngis. Four strains, all belonging to a new yeast species, yet to be described, were also isolated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cold Temperature*
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Cryptococcus / classification
  • Cryptococcus / genetics
  • Cryptococcus / growth & development
  • Cryptococcus / isolation & purification
  • DNA Fingerprinting / methods
  • DNA, Fungal / analysis
  • Geologic Sediments / microbiology*
  • Ice Cover / chemistry
  • Ice Cover / microbiology*
  • Italy
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Ribosomal / genetics
  • Rhodotorula / classification
  • Rhodotorula / genetics
  • Rhodotorula / growth & development
  • Rhodotorula / isolation & purification
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Yeasts / classification
  • Yeasts / genetics
  • Yeasts / growth & development*
  • Yeasts / isolation & purification

Substances

  • DNA, Fungal
  • RNA, Ribosomal
  • RNA, ribosomal, 26S

Associated data

  • GENBANK/EF643718
  • GENBANK/EF643722
  • GENBANK/EF643729
  • GENBANK/EF643730
  • GENBANK/EF643732
  • GENBANK/EF643733
  • GENBANK/EF643735
  • GENBANK/EF643736
  • GENBANK/EF643737
  • GENBANK/EF643738
  • GENBANK/EF643739
  • GENBANK/EF643740
  • GENBANK/EF643741
  • GENBANK/EF643745