Antigenic structures and physicochemical properties of the Saccharomyces species.

Abstract

Fifty strains of nine Saccharomyces species such as S. exiguus, S. unisporus, S. rosei, S. delbrueckii, S. dairensis, S. inconspicuus, S. vafer, S. fermentati and S. saitoanus were examined with respect to their serological properties and patterns of 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-n. m. r.) spectra of cell wall polysaccharides. The strains examined could be divided into three groups by slide agglutination tests using factor sera. Group I of S. exiguus including several strains of two different species, S. delbrueckii and S. dairensis, possessed antigens 1, 4, 5, 6, 10 and 26. Similarly, Group II strains of S. unisporus, S. exiguus and S. delbrueckii contained antigens 1, 4, 5, 6, 10 and 23. Group III composed of six different species possessed antigens 1, 4 and 24. After all, nine species including type strains were divided serologically into three groups. Antigenic differences were found among the strains of single species such as S. exiguus and S. delbrueckii. Therefore, the strains of S. exiguus in Group II and the strains of S. delbrueckii in Group I and II are assumed to be mislabeled strains. These strains were confirmed by the 1H-n. m. r. spectral patterns that correlated well with the serological relationships. The strains of S. rosei, S. inconspicuus, S. vafer, S. fermentati, S. saitoanus and S. delbrueckii in Group III are considered as one species because they were closely related by their serological characteristics and 1H-n. m. r. spectra of cell wall polysaccharides. In addition, slide agglutination methods with factor sera are excellent as the rapid and accurate test procedures for yeast identification.