Thraustochytrids, fatty acid compositions, and methods of making and uses thereof

Abstract

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

1 . An isolated thraustochytrid microorganism of the thraustochytrid species deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-9695 or a strain derived therefrom, wherein the total fatty acids produced by said microorganism or strain derived therefrom comprise about 10% or less by weight eicosapentaenoic acid. 
     
     
         2 . An isolated thraustochytrid microorganism having the characteristics of the thraustochytrid species deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-9695, wherein the total fatty acids produced by said microorganism or strain derived therefrom comprise about 10% or less by weight eicosapentaenoic acid. 
     
     
         3 . An isolated thraustochytrid microorganism, or a strain derived therefrom, comprising a triglyceride fraction, wherein the docosahexaenoic acid content of the triglyceride fraction is at least about 40% by weight, wherein the docosapentaenoic acid n-6 content of the triglyceride fraction is from at least about 0.5% by weight to about 6% by weight, and wherein the total fatty acids produced by said microorganism or strain derived therefrom comprise about 10% or less by weight of eicosapentaenoic acid. 
     
     
         4 . An isolated thraustochytrid microorganism of the same species as the thraustochytrid deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-9695, or a strain derived therefrom, wherein the total fatty acids produced by said microorganism or strain derived therefrom comprise about 10% or less by weight eicosapentaenoic acid. 
     
     
         5 . The isolated thraustochytrid microorganism of any one of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the strain derived therefrom is a mutant strain. 
     
     
         6 . An isolated thraustochytrid microorganism deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-9695. 
     
     
         7 . An isolated thraustochytrid microorganism deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-9696. 
     
     
         8 . An isolated thraustochytrid microorganism deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-9697. 
     
     
         9 . An isolated thraustochytrid microorganism deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-9698. 
     
     
         10 - 50 . (canceled)