Saccharomyces

Saccharomyces
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Saccharomycetes
Order:	Saccharomycetales
Family:	Saccharomycetaceae
Genus:	Saccharomyces Meyen (1838)
Type species
Saccharomyces cerevisiae Meyen (1838)
Species
Saccharomyces arboricolus Saccharomyces bayanus Saccharomyces bulderi Saccharomyces cariocanus Saccharomyces cariocus Saccharomyces cerevisiae Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii Saccharomyces chevalieri Saccharomyces dairenensis Saccharomyces ellipsoideus Saccharomyces eubayanus Saccharomyces exiguus Saccharomyces florentinus Saccharomyces fragilis Saccharomyces kudriavzevii Saccharomyces martiniae Saccharomyces mikatae Saccharomyces monacensis Saccharomyces norbensis Saccharomyces paradoxus Saccharomyces pastorianus Saccharomyces spencerorum Saccharomyces turicensis Saccharomyces unisporus Saccharomyces uvarum Saccharomyces zonatus

Saccharomyces is a genus of fungi that includes many species of yeasts. Saccharomyces is from Greek σάκχαρον (sugar) and μύκης (fungus) and means sugar fungus. Many members of this genus are considered very important in food production where they are known as brewer's yeast, baker's yeast and sourdough starter among others. They are unicellular and saprotrophic fungi. One example is Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is used in making bread, wine, and beer, and for human and animal health. Other members of this genus include the wild yeast Saccharomyces paradoxus that is the closest relative to S. cerevisiae, Saccharomyces bayanus, used in making wine, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii, used in medicine.