Transfer of Genetic Material between Pathogenic and Food-Borne Yeasts

Transfer of genetic material between pathogenic and food-borne yeasts.

Many pathogenic yeast species are asexual and therefore not involved in intra- or interspecies mating. However, high-frequency transfer of plasmid DNA was observed when pathogenic and food-borne yeasts were grown together. This property could play a crucial role in the spread of virulence and drug resistance factors among yeasts.

Horizontal transfer of genetic material among Saccharomyces yeasts.

The genus Saccharomyces consists of several species divided into the sensu stricto and the sensu lato groups. The genomes of these species differ in the number and organization of nuclear chromosomes and in the size and organization of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). In the present experiments we examined whether these yeasts can exchange DNA and thereby create novel combinations of genetic material...

Inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes by food-borne yeasts.

Many bacteria are known to inhibit food pathogens, such as Listeria monocytogenes, by secreting a variety of bactericidal and bacteriostatic substances. In sharp contrast, it is unknown whether yeast has an inhibitory potential for the growth of pathogenic bacteria in food. A total of 404 yeasts were screened for inhibitory activity against five Listeria monocytogenes strains. Three hundred and...

Comparative study on the identification of food-borne yeasts.

Morphologically distinct yeast colonies from partially and fully processed fruits and vegetables were isolated over a 3-year period. Identification of 239 strains was achieved by using standard methods, commercial identification kits (API 20C and API YEAST-IDENT), and a simplified system for food-borne yeasts. The identified strains of fruit origin represented 36 species belonging to 19 genera....

Yeasts Pathogenic to Humans