[Search for lectin producers among the yeast of Pichia Hansen emend. Kurtzman genus]

Strains (103) of yeast from Pichia genus: P. anomala, P. guilliermondii and P. membranaefaciens species have been investigated. The researchers have found 87 strains (84.5%) capable to form extracellular and surface lectins with activity to 512 hemagglutinating units. The overwhelming number of strains (75.7-92.6%) synthesized lectins of the both forms. Considerably less quantity of lectin producers of some form--extracellular or surface ones--have been found. Availability of producers of extracellular lectins was characteristic to greater extent of the yeast of P. anomala and P. guilliermondii, and producers of surface lectins--mainly of P. guilliermondii. The most active producers of lectins have been isolated from human and animal organisms, soils and wine.