Inhibition of clinical and environmentalCryptococcus neoformans isolates by two Brazilian killer yeasts

Abstract
Two killer yeast strains (HB55 and HB88) capable of inhibiting human pathogenic fungi were isolated from leaves of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis in Brazil. These isolates were identified by conventional methods and sequencing of the D1/D2 region of the 26S rDNA as Kodamaea ohmeri . They inhibited all Cryptococcus neoformans (vars. neoformans , grubii and gattii ) strains tested, including reference, clinical and environmental isolates. The killer phenotype was not cured by thermal treatment. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)