Biodiversity and ecology of Australasian yeasts (fungi)

The biodiversity and ecology of yeasts associated with natural habitats hav e attracted little systematic research in Australasia. Most isolations conc ern yeasts associated with foods and beverages such as wine, fruit juices, soft drinks, dairy products, high-sugar products and processed meats. Altho ugh these yeasts have interesting physiological and biochemical properties (e.g. xerotolerance, preservative resistance, protease and lipase activity) , they are similar to species found in products in other countries. Ecologi cal studies of yeasts associated with cactus, hibiscus, morning glory plant s and associated insects of New South Wales and Queensland have revealed ne w species including Pichia opuntiae, Clavispora opuntiae, and Wickerhamiell a australiensis, Kodamaea anthophila, Kodamaea kakaduensis, Metschnikowia h ibisci and a unique predacious species of Candida. New species of Cryptococ cus and Rhodotorula were isolated from soils and pasture grasses in New Zea land. Clinical isolates in the genera Candida and Cryptococcus are similar to those found overseas but Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii is uniquely associated with the red gum tree, Eucalyptus camaldulensis.