Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Synonomy: 
Candida robusta

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, commonly known as Baker’s yeast, may be found as a harmless and transient digestive commensal and coloniser of mucosal surfaces of normal individuals.

The anamorphic state of S. cerevisiae is sometimes referred to as Candida robusta. This species is phylogenetically closely related to Candida glabrata and shares many clinical and microbiological characteristics to this species (Arendrup et al. 2014). S. cerevisiae may be involved in mucosal infections like vaginitis, and in bloodstream infections, particularly in fluconazole-exposed patients. 

Note: Saccharomyces boulardii, a genetically similar subtype that is used as a probiotic for prevention and treatment of various sorts of diarrhoea and recurrent Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea should be avoided in immunocompromised hosts (Enache-Angoulvant and Hennequin 2005, Arendrup et al. 2014).

RG-1 organism.

Morphological description: 
Colonies are white to cream, smooth, glabrous and yeast-like. Large globose to ellipsoidal budding yeast-like cells or blastoconidia, 3.0-10.0 x 4.5-21.0 µm. No capsules present on India Ink preparation.

Molecular identification: 
ITS and/or D1/D2 sequencing is recommended (McCullough et al. 1988).

References: 
McGinnis (1980), Barnett et al. (1983), Kreger-Van Rij (1984), Rippon (1988), Kurtzman and Fell (1988), de Hoog et al.(2000, 2015).

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