Yeast on Yeast Violence Around the World

A study in the June 12, 2012 issue of the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology have isolated three strains that represent a new yeast species.

 S. fodiens

Saccharomycopsis fodiens (as the research team proposes the species be named) specimens were recovered as part of independent collections from flower associated beetles in Australia, Costa Rica, and the Galapagos Islands.
The wide spread, yet isolated distribution of S. fodiens lead the researchers to propose that its dispersal may be linked to human factors.
Another interesting character of the species is that it when grown in the presence of other fungus and yeasts it feeds on them... Cannibals! Well not really, since they are consuming other yeast species, but still yeast on yeast violence. It does this by forming short protuberances(seen in picture) that penetrate the vitim cell causing death.
Saccharomycopsis fodiens sp. nov., a rare predacious yeast from three distant lacalities.


Just further evidence that no matter what you are or where you live, there is a species of fungus that can and will eat you.

Study and photo credit :  Marc-André Lachance, Carlos A. Rosa, Enrique Javier Carvajal, Larissa F.D. Freitas, Jane M. Bowels