Production of docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and/or carotenoids in mixotrophic mode by nitzschia

Abstract

New strains of microalgae belonging to the Nitzschia genus allow high-yield production of lipids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and/or carotenoids such as fucoxanthin. Biomass containing the microalgae can be charged with fucoxanthin representing more than 0.2% by weight of the dry matter.

1 . A biomass consisting essentially of microalgae of the genus  Nitzschia  and water, wherein said microalgae of the genus  Nitzschia  are charged with fucoxanthin, said fucoxanthin representing more than 0.2% by weight of the biomass dry matter. 
     
     
         2 . The biomass of  claim 1 , wherein said fucoxanthin represents more than 0.25% by weight of the biomass dry matter. 
     
     
         3 . The biomass of  claim 1 , wherein the biomass comprises at least 30 g/L of dry matter. 
     
     
         4 . The biomass of  claim 1 , wherein the biomass is product of fermentation. 
     
     
         5 . The biomass of  claim 4 , wherein the biomass is obtained from a culture that has been cultured in mixotrophic mode over several generations in a culture medium comprising a carbon-containing substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The biomass of  claim 1 , wherein said microalgae of the genus  Nitzschia  is the strain FCC 810, deposited with the CCAP (Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa) under the accession number CCAP 1052/21. 
     
     
         7 . The biomass of  claim 1 , wherein said microalgae of the genus  Nitzschia  capable of being cultured under mixotropic conditions in a culture medium comprising a carbon-containing substrate is the species  Nitzschia brevirostris.    
     
     
         8 . The biomass of  claim 1 , wherein said carbon-containing substrate is selected from the group consisting of glucose, derivatives of cellulose, lactate, lactose, saccharose, acetate, glycerol and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The biomass of  claim 5 , wherein said carbon-containing substrate in the culture medium is selected from the group consisting of glucose, derivatives of cellulose, lactate, lactose, saccharose, acetate, glycerol and mixtures thereof.