Candida uthaithanina sp. nov., an anamorphic yeast species in Nakaseomyces clade isolated in Thailand

Three yeast stains were isolated from two unknown fruits (strains DD2-22-1T and SK44) and moss (strain ST-449) in Thailand. Analysis of the D1/ D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene sequences of the three strains revealed that they belonged to the same species. In terms of pairwise sequence similarity, Candida cf. glabrata UWO(PS) 98―110.4 and Candida nivariensis were the closest undescribed and recognized taxa, but the levels of nucleotide substitutions were 1.7―1.9% and 2.0―2.2%, respectively. The levels of nucleotide substitutions were sufficient to justify the description of a separate species of Candida. In the phylogenetic tree based on the D1/D2 domain of the LSU rRNA gene the three strains were placed in a separate branch in the Nakaseomyces clade with C. cf. glabrata UWO(PS)98-110.4, C. nivariensis, Candida glabrata, Candida bracarensis, Candida kungkrabaensis and Nakaseomyces delphensis. Phenotypic characteristics of the three strains were similar which included proliferation by multilateral budding, absence of ascospores, arthrospores or ballistospores; negative for Diazonium blue B and urease tests. The major ubiquinone was Q-6. On the basis of the above findings, the three strains were assigned to a single novel species of Candida, for which the name Candida uthaithanina sp. nov is proposed. The type strain is DD2-22-1T (= BCC 29899T = NBRC 104876T = CBS 10932T).