| Kluyveromyces marxianus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Phylum: | Ascomycota |
| Subphylum: | Saccharomycotina |
| Class: | Saccharomycetes |
| Order: | Saccharomycetales |
| Family: | Saccharomycetaceae |
| Genus: | Kluyveromyces |
| Species: | K. marxianus |
| Binomial name | |
| Kluyveromyces marxianus Van der Walt, 1971[1] |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Kluyveromyces fragilis |
|
Kluyveromyces marxianus is a species of yeast in the genus Kluyveromyces, and is the sexual form (teleomorph) of Candida kefyr. K. marxianus is used commercially to produce the lactase enzyme similar to the use of other fungi such as those in the genus Aspergillus.[2]
It is produced as a nutritional yeast and bonding agent for fodder and pet food, and as a source of ribonucleic acid in pharmaceuticals.[3]