What is Pichia?

Pichia (Hansenula and Hyphopichia are obsolete synonyms) is a genus of yeasts in the family Saccharomycetaceae with spherical, elliptical or oblong acuminate cells. Pichia is a teleomorph, and forms during sexual reproduction hat-shaped, hemispherical or round ascospores. The anamorphs of some Pichia species are Candida species. The asexual reproduction is by multilateral budding.
Lactose is neither fermented by this species nor assimilated. The behavior with regard to other carbohydrates is dependent on the different species. Nitrate is always assimilated.
Some Pichia representatives can be found in raw milk and cheese, such as P. anomola (formerly named Hansenula anomala). P. anomala has been shown to combat the undesirable mold Aspergillus flavus, which contaminates food sources such as tree nuts and corn, and produces aflatoxins. Researchers of the Agricultural Research Service found that when pistachio trees were treated with P. anomala the growth of A. flavus was inhibited up to 97%. In addition to inhibiting A. flavus, the yeast may also help protect other agricultural crops from unwanted molds that affect the crop’s taste, texture, yield, and safety. In smeared surface ripened cheese the most important species is P. membranifaciens that also occurs on cream cheese. The formation of a so-called pellicle is typical. Another member of the genus, P. pastoris is widely used in molecular biology and biotechnology as an expression system. P. angusta furthermore called Hansenula polymorpha or H. polymorpha, is a model organism for studying the functions of peroxisomes and their underlying molecular biology.
Some Pichia species (eg P. ohmeri) have recently been clinically been proven to be pathogens, better known as so-called opportunistic pathogens in immunocompromised humans.
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