Phylogenetics and Biogeography of Biotechnologically Important Methylotrophic Yeasts Komagataella

— Molecular genetic study of 22 methanol-assimilating Komagataella strains maintained at the UCDFST collection (United States) was carried out. Multigene phylogenetic analysis revealed that strains previously assigned to “ Pichia pastoris ” based on the standard taxonomic tests actually belong to four different species: K. pastoris , K. phaffii , K. mondaviorum , and K. ulmi . Seven Komagataella species are practically indistinguishable by the standard morphological and physiological tests, and have similar D1/D2 sequences. Multigene phylogenetic analysis should be applied for reliable delineation of all seven Komagataella species. The biogeography of Komagataella yeasts is noteworthy. K. mondaviorum , K. kurtzmanii , K. phaffii , K. populi , and K. ulmi have been found only in North America, while K. pastoris and K. pseudopastoris are characteristic of Europe.