[Molecular markers for differentiation between the closely related dairy yeast Kluyveromyces lactis var. lactis and wild Kluyveromyces lactis strains from the European "krassilnikovii" population].

A comparative molecular genetic study of 37 Kluyveromyces strains of different origin has made it possible to find molecular markers that can differentiate between the dairy yeast Kluyveromyces lactis var. lactis and the genetically close wild Kl. lactis strains from the European "krassilnikovii" population, which are unable to ferment lactose. A restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the IGS2 region of the strains' rDNA reveals two different AluI profiles, one of which corresponds to Kl. lactis var. lactis while the other corresponds to yeasts from the "krassilnikovii" population. The AluI restriction profile of the IGS2 region of the rDNA also makes it possible to differentiate between the physiologically similar species Kl. marxianus and Kl. lactis. The origin of clinical Kl. lactis var. lactis isolates is discussed.