YEAST KILLER SYSTEMS

The killer phenomenon in yeasts has been revealed to be a multicentric model for molecular biologists, virologists, phytopathologists, epide miologists, industrial and medical microbiologists, mycologists, and p harmacologists. The surprisingly widespread occurrence of the killer p henomenon among taxonomically unrelated microorganisms, including prok aryotic and eukaryotic pathogens, has engendered a new interest in its biological significance as well as its theoretical and practical appl ications. The search for therapeutic opportunities by using yeast kill er systems has conceptually opened new avenues for the prevention and control of life-threatening fungal diseases through the idiotypic netw ork that is apparently exploited by the immune system in the course of natural infections. In this review, the biology, ecology, epidemiolog y, therapeutics, serology, and idiotypy of yeast killer systems are di scussed.