A yeast, strain NCYC 2938(T), was isolated from contaminated industrial mat
erial. This material was involved in a cascade continuous process for oxidi
zing sorbitol (D-glucitol) to L-sorbose, The isolate is similar, although n
ot identical, to Candida geochares and Candida magnoliae in its physiologic
al characteristics. Sequence analysis of the 26S rDNA D1/D2 variable domain
showed that it was similar to those of both Candida species, but differed
sufficiently to be considered as a separate species. Both the physiological
characteristics and the unique 26S rDNA D1/D2 sequence of NCYC 2938T are d
escribed here, and the yeast has been named Candida sorbosivorans sp. nov.
The type strain is NCYC 2938(T) (= CBS 8768(T)).