Phylogenetics and Biogeography of Biotechnologically Important Methylotrophic Yeasts Komagataella

Molecular genetic study of 22 methanol-assimilating Komagataella strains maintained at the UCDFST collection (United States) was carried out. Multigene phylogenetic analysis revealed that strains previously assigned to Pichia pastoris based on the standard taxonomic tests actually belong to four different species: K. pastoris, K. phaffii, K. mondaviorum, and K. ulmi. Seven Komagataella species are practically indistinguishable by the standard morphological and physiological tests, and have similar D1/D2 sequences. Multigene phylogenetic analysis should be applied for reliable delineation of all seven Komagataella species. The biogeography of Komagataella yeasts is noteworthy. K. mondaviorum, K. kurtzmanii, K. phaffii, K. populi, and K. ulmi have been found only in North America, while K. pastoris and K. pseudopastoris are characteristic of Europe.