Komagataella kurtzmanii is a species of ascomycete fungi existing as a yeast.
Komagataella kurtzmanii was first described from a strain that had been previously collected from a fir tree (Abies sp.) in the Catalina mountains, in Arizona. It was determined to be a distinct species on the basis of comparisons of DNA sequences. K. kurtzmanii is named after Cletus P. Kurtzman, for his contributions to the study of yeast taxonomy.
When grown on malt extract agar, cells of K. kurtzmanii have been described as "spherical... to oviod" with lengths ranging from 2-7 üm. Within asci, growth of 1-4 hat-shaped ascospores has been reported. Growth does not occur at temperatures of 35ðC or above. Glucose is fermented by K. kurtzmanii; other common carbohydrates are not fermented. K. kurtzmanii is unique among Komagataella as the only member unable to assimilate trehalose.
Within Komagataella, K. kurtzmanii is most closely related to K. phaffii.