Yeasts

Single-celled fungi that reproduce by sprouting or division ("splitting"). Yeasts are non-photosynthetic, well-developed, unicellular fungi (Ascosporidae). They are facultatively anaerobic and oxidise sugars to carbon dioxide and water. Reproduction takes place asexually by budding or division and sexually by ascus formation with ascospores. As eukaryotes, they are generally much larger than the vast majority of bacteria and show similar cell structures to mammals and plants. About 700 yeast species are known today with over 5000 strains, but only a few have been described in detail. Most important human pathogenic species:

• Candida albicans
• candida parapsilosis
• candida glabrata
• candida guilliermondii
• candida krusei
• Candida tropicalis (see below Candida, Candidosis)
• Malassezia species (mainly Malassezia globosa; see also Malassezia furfur).