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.

1 - 66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . A method of making a biomass of a microorganism having fatty acids and a concentration of EPA, 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) adjusting the amount of the biomass in the vessel to attain a % level of EPA of the total weight of the fatty acids in the Thraustochytrid that is higher when comparing to the % level of EPA where the amount of biomass is not adjusted.   
     
     
         68 . The method as recited in  claim 67 , wherein the EPA in the Thraustochytrid is increased to greater than about 4%, by weight, of the total weight of the fatty acids. 
     
     
         69 . The method as recited in  claim 67 , 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. 
     
     
         70 . The method as recited in  claim 67 , wherein the concentration of the EPA is increased from about 4%, by weight of the total weight of the fatty acids to a range of about 6% to about 30%, by weight of the total weight of the fatty acids. 
     
     
         71 . The method as recited in  claim 67 , wherein the concentration of the EPA is increased to greater than 20%, by weight, of the total weight of the fatty acids. 
     
     
         72 . The method as recited in  claim 68  wherein the biomass has a density of great than or equal to 10 g/l. 
     
     
         73 . The method as recited in  claim 68  wherein the biomass has a density of about 10 g/l up to about 250 g/l. 
     
     
         74 . A biomass made according to anyone of  claims 67  to  73 . 
     
     
         75 . An oil extracted from a biomass of any one of  claims 67  to  73 . 
     
     
         76 . A feed product that contains a biomass of any one of  claims 67  to  73  or an oil of  claim 75 . 
     
     
         77 . The feed product of  claim 76 , wherein said feed product is a feed or feed supplement. 
     
     
         78 . The feed of  claim 77 , wherein said feed is an animal feed.