Eicosapentaenoic acid-producing microorganisms, fatty acid compositions, and methods of making and uses thereof
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. 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 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 CO 2 to >2% of the dissolved gas, (ii) optionally adjusting the pressure on the biomass, and (iii) optionally adjusting the temperature in the broth.
2. A method of increasing the concentration of EPA in a biomass of a microorganism having fatty acids and a concentration of EPA, comprising:
(a) fermenting the microorganism in a fermentor vessel to produce 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.
3. A biomass made according to claim 1 or claim 2 .