Saccharomyces

Saccharomyces is a genus of fungi that includes many species of yeasts. The name 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.