Three new combinations from the Cryptococcus laurentii complex:: Cryptococcus aureus, Cryptococcus carnescens and Cryptococcus peneaus

Fifteen strains of the Cryptococcus laurentii complex were reclassified based on sequence analyses of 18S rDNA, the D1/D2 region of the 26S rDNA and the internal transcribed spacer regions, as well as physiological and biochemical properties. The strains were divided into phylogenetic groups I and II. The type strain of C. laurentii (CBS 139(T)=ATCC 18803(T)=JCM 9066(T)=MUCL 30398(T)=NRRL Y-2536(T)) was in phylogenetic group I. Phylogenetic group II, which was phylogenetically distant from phylogenetic group I, clustered with Cryptococcus dimennae and Bullera globispora. In phylogenetic group I, the type strain of Torula aurea (CBS 318(T)=ATCC 32063(T)=IFO 0372(T)=NRRL Y-1582(T)) appeared to be a separate species from C. laurentii, and the designation Cryptococcus aureus comb. nov. is proposed for Torula aurea. Cryptococcus flavescens (formerly Torula flavescens, type strain CBS 942(T)=ATCC 10668(T) = DBVPG 6007(T) = MUCL 30414(T)) was treated as a synonym of C. laurentii; however, this is a distinct species. The type strains of Torulopsis camescens (CBS 973(T)=ATCC 32064(T) = MUCL 30641(T) = NRRL Y-1503(T)), Rhodotorula peneaus (CBS 2409(T) = ATCC 13546(T) = MUCL 30643(T)=NRRL Y-2005(T)) and Cryptococcus victoriae belonged to phylogenetic group II. Two new combinations, Cryptococcus carnescens comb. nov. (type strain CBS 973(T)=ATCC 32064(T)=MUCL 30641(T)=NRRL Y-1503(T)) and Cryptococcus peneaus comb. nov. (type strain CBS 2409(T) = ATCC 13546(T) = MUCL 30643(T) = NRRL Y-2005(T)), are proposed from this group.