Kluyveromyces lactis

**Semantic type:** Fungus

**Definition:** A species of yeasts in the family Saccharomycetaceae and phylum Ascomycota with the ability to utilize lactose and convert it into lactic acid. The species is heterothallic, with a predominantly haploid life cycle. K. lactis has emerged as an important yeast species for research and industrial biotechnology.

**Synonyms:** - Candida sphaerica - KLUYVEROMYCES LACTIS - Kluyveromyces drosophilarum - Kluyveromyces lactis var. drosophilarum - Kluyveromyces lactis var. lactis - Kluyveromyces marxianus lactis - Kluyveromyces marxianus var. drosophilarum - Kluyveromyces marxianus var. lactis - Saccharomyces lactis