A killer yeast is a yeast, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is able to secrete one of a number of toxic proteins which are lethal to receptive cells. The phenomenon was first observed by Louis Pasteur. These yeast cells are immune to the toxic effects of the protein due to an intrinsic immunity. Killer yeast strains can be a problem in commercial processing because they kill desirable strains. The killer yeast system was first described in 1963. Study of killer toxins helped to better understand the secretion pathway of yeast, which is similar to those of higher eukaryotes. It also can be used in treatment of some diseases, mainly that caused by fungi.
Read more about Killer Yeast: Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Kluyveromyces Lactis, Other Yeast, Use of Toxins, Control Methods
Famous quotes containing the words killer and/or yeast:
“I believe there’s a killer in all of us. I know there’s one inside me. When you know the killer in you and you know also that you do not want to kill, you have to set yourself upon a course of learning. Not to kill that killer then, but to control it.”
—Kate Millett (b. 1934)
“Blues is to jazz what yeast is to bread—without it, it’s flat.”
—Carmen McRae (b. 1922)