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 .- 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) oil comprising a triacylglycerol fraction which is between 65% to 98% by weight of said PUFA oil, wherein between 5% to 30% by weight of the fatty acids in the triacylglycerol fraction is eicosapentaenoic acid, wherein between 30% to 50% by weight of the fatty acids in the triacylglycerol fraction is docosahexaenoic acid, and wherein less than 5% by weight of the fatty acids in the triacylglycerol fraction is arachidonic acid, wherein said PUFA oil is produced by an isolated strain of thraustochytrid, wherein said PUFA oil also comprising an effective amount of at least one added antioxidant to provide oxidative stability. 
     
     
         48 . The PUFA oil of  claim 47 , wherein said triacylglycerol fraction is triacylglycerol fraction of between 75% to 98% by weight. 
     
     
         49 . The PUFA oil of  claim 48 , wherein said triacylglycerol fraction is of between 85% to 98% by weight. 
     
     
         50 . The PUFA oil of  claim 47 , wherein between 10% to 25% by weight of the fatty acids in the triacylglycerol fraction is eicosapentaenoic acid. 
     
     
         51 . The PUFA oil of  claim 47 , wherein between 5% to 25% by weight of the fatty acids in the triacylglycerol fraction is eicosapentaenoic acid. 
     
     
         52 . The PUFA oil of  claim 47 , wherein between 10% to 20% by weight of the fatty acids in the triacylglycerol fraction is eicosapentaenoic acid. 
     
     
         53 . The PUFA oil of  claim 47 , wherein between 35% to 50% by weight of the fatty acids in the triacylglycerol fraction is docosahexaenoic acid. 
     
     
         54 . The PUFA oil of  claim 53 , wherein between 30% to 40% by weight of the fatty acids in the triacylglycerol fraction is docosahexaenoic acid. 
     
     
         55 . The PUFA oil of  claim 47 , wherein 3% or less by weight of the fatty acids in the triacylglycerol fraction is arachidonic acid. 
     
     
         56 . The PUFA oil of  claim 55 , wherein 2% or less by weight of the fatty acids in the triacylglycerol fraction is arachidonic acid. 
     
     
         57 . A food product, cosmetic, or pharmaceutical composition for humans, comprising the PUFA oil of  claim 47 . 
     
     
         58 . The food product of  claim 57 , wherein the food product is an infant formula. 
     
     
         59 . The food product of  claim 57 , wherein the food product is milk, a beverage, a therapeutic drink, a nutritional drink, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         60 . The food product of  claim 57 , wherein the food product is a nutritional supplement. 
     
     
         61 . An animal feed comprising the PUFA oil of  claim 47 . 
     
     
         62 . The animal feed of  claim 61 , wherein the animal feed is an aquaculture feed. 
     
     
         63 . The animal feed of  claim 61 , wherein the animal feed is a domestic animal feed, a zoological animal feed, a work animal feed, a livestock feed, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         64 . A biomass comprising the PUFA oil of  claim 47 . 
     
     
         65 . An animal feed supplement comprising the PUFA oil of  claim 47 . 
     
     
         66 . The PUFA oil of  claim 47 , wherein said PUFA oil is extracted from a microbial organism or a plant.