Levaduras psicrotolerantes en ambientes extremos domésticos de la Sierra Ecuatoriana

Abstract

Introduction: Psychrotolerant yeasts in extreme domestic environments have been little studied in Latin America, particularly in Ecuador. The lack of knowledge about them could represent a public health problem, as prevention and hygiene measures have not been established to avoid infections caused by this type of yeast. Objective: To determine the diversity of psychrotolerant yeasts in extreme domestic environments in the Ecuadorian highlands. Methodology: The methods to be used include culture and macroscopic and microscopic evaluation of the cultured yeasts, estimation of optimal growth temperature, expression of virulence factors, DNA extraction, amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, DNA electrophoresis in agarose gels, sequencing, and sequence analysis with BLAST-N and molecular phylogeny. Isolate, characterize, and identify strains of domestic extremophilic yeasts. This will likely include potentially pathogenic species. Results: An exhaustive selection of 12 yeast morphotypes , which showed clear differences after undergoing purification processes, was carried out. Among the isolates studied, some strains are phylogenetically very close to Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Yamadazyma takamatsuzukensis, and Barnettozyma species. Conclusion: The sinks in the apartments in the city of Cañar show a wide diversity of psychrotolerant yeasts, capable of developing at low temperatures and at 37 degrees Celsius. This finding suggests these yeasts have acquired metabolic adaptations to survive extreme environmental conditions.