Eicosapentaenoic acid-producing microorganisms, fatty acid compositions, and methods of making and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention is directed to isolated microorganisms as well as strains and mutants thereof, biomasses, microbial oils, compositions, and cultures; methods of producing the microbial oils, biomasses, and mutants; and methods of using the isolated microorganisms, biomasses, and microbial oils.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . A biomass of a microorganism having fatty acids and a concentration of EPA, wherein said biomass is produced by a method comprising:
 (a) fermenting the microorganism in a fermentor vessel to produce a biomass wherein the microorganism comprises a Thraustochytrid that produces a biomass having at least 3% EPA of the total weight of the fatty acids; and   (b) attaining a desired EPA level in the biomass by (i) adjusting the amount of the biomass in the vessel and (ii) optionally adjusting the pressure on the biomass.   
     
     
         68 . A biomass of a microorganism having fatty acids and a concentration of EPA, wherein said biomass is produced by a method comprising:
 (a) fermenting the microorganism in a fermentor vessel to produce a fermentation broth and a biomass wherein the microorganism comprises a Thraustochytrid that produces a biomass having at least 3% EPA of the total weight of the fatty acids; and   (b) attaining a desired EPA level in the biomass by (i) adjusting the temperature in the broth and (ii) optionally adjusting the pressure on the biomass.   
     
     
         69 . The biomass as recited in  claim 68 , wherein the temperature is adjusted to less than about 30° C. 
     
     
         70 . A biomass of a microorganism having fatty acids and a concentration of EPA, wherein said biomass is produced by a method comprising:
 (a) fermenting the microorganism in a fermentor vessel, comprising a gas, to produce a biomass wherein the microorganism comprises a Thraustochytrid that produces a biomass having at least 3% EPA of the total weight of the fatty acids; and   (b) attaining a desired EPA level in the biomass by (i) adjusting the CO 2  levels in the gas and (ii) optionally adjusting the pressure on the biomass.   
     
     
         71 . A biomass of a microorganism having fatty acids and a concentration of EPA, wherein said biomass is produced by a method comprising:
 (a) fermenting the microorganism in a fermentor vessel, comprising a gas, to produce a biomass wherein the microorganism comprises a Thraustochytrid that produces a biomass having at least 3% EPA of the total weight of the fatty acids; and   (b) supplementing the gas with CO 2  sufficient to increase the concentration of the EPA in the biomass.   
     
     
         72 . The biomass as recited in  claim 71 , wherein the amount of CO 2  is greater than or equal to 2% (mole) of the gas in the chamber and the concentration of the EPA in the biomass is increased to greater than about 4%, by weight, of the total weight of the fatty acids. 
     
     
         73 . The biomass as recited in  claim 72 , wherein the concentration of EPA is increased from greater than about 4% up to about 45%, by weight, of the total weight of the fatty acids. 
     
     
         74 . A biomass of a microorganism having fatty acids and a concentration of EPA, wherein said biomass is produced by a method comprising growing the microorganism in a culture medium comprising less than 0.1 mg/L vitamin B12 to produce a biomass. 
     
     
         75 . An oil extracted from a biomass of any one of  claims 67 - 74 , wherein the biomass is produced from an isolated microorganism deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-10208 wherein the oil comprises fatty acids wherein the fatty acids further comprise omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids wherein the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids comprise DHA and EPA in an amount of about ≧90%, by weight, of the total amount of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the amount of EPA, by weight, is from about 6% up to about 65% of the total amount of EPA and DHA. 
     
     
         76 . An oil extracted from a biomass of a microorganism having fatty acids and a concentration of EPA, wherein said biomass is produced by a method comprising:
 (a) fermenting the microorganism in a fermentor vessel to produce a fermentation broth having an aqueous phase and biomass wherein the aqueous phase has a dissolved gas wherein the microorganism comprises a Thraustochytrid that produces a biomass having at least 3% EPA of the total weight of the fatty acids; and   (b) attaining a desired EPA level in the biomass by (i) adjusting the dissolved CO2 to >2% of the dissolved gas, (ii) optionally adjusting the pressure on the biomass, and (iii) optionally adjusting the temperature in the broth.   
     
     
         77 . An oil extracted from a biomass of a microorganism having fatty acids and a concentration of EPA, wherein said biomass is produced by a method comprising:
 (a) fermenting the microorganism in a fermentor vessel to produce a biomass; and   (b) providing a pressure on the biomass of greater than or equal to 0.5 psi above atmospheric pressure for a time sufficient to increase the concentration of EPA in the biomass.   
     
     
         78 . The oil as recited in any one of  claims 74 - 77 , wherein said oil is a crude oil extracted from the biomass without further processing. 
     
     
         79 . The oil as recited in any one of  claims 74 - 77 , wherein said oil is a refined oil. 
     
     
         80 . A feed product that contains a biomass of any one of  claims 67 - 74  or an oil of any one of  claims 75 - 79 . 
     
     
         81 . The feed product of  claim 80 , wherein said feed product is a feed or feed supplement. 
     
     
         82 . The feed of  claim 80 , wherein said feed is an animal feed. 
     
     
         83 . The feed of  claim 80 , wherein said feed is an aquaculture feed.