Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23K—FODDER
  • A23K50/00—Feeding-stuffs specially adapted for particular animals
  • A23K50/80—Feeding-stuffs specially adapted for particular animals for aquatic animals, e.g. fish, crustaceans or molluscs
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12P—FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE
  • C12P7/00—Preparation of oxygen-containing organic compounds
  • C12P7/64—Fats; Fatty oils; Ester-type waxes; Higher fatty acids, i.e. having at least seven carbon atoms in an unbroken chain bound to a carboxyl group; Oxidised oils or fats
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12P—FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE
  • C12P7/00—Preparation of oxygen-containing organic compounds
  • C12P7/64—Fats; Fatty oils; Ester-type waxes; Higher fatty acids, i.e. having at least seven carbon atoms in an unbroken chain bound to a carboxyl group; Oxidised oils or fats
  • C12P7/6409—Fatty acids
  • C12P7/6427—Polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFA], i.e. having two or more double bonds in their backbone
  • C12P7/6434—Docosahexenoic acids [DHA]
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23D—EDIBLE OILS OR FATS, e.g. MARGARINES, SHORTENINGS OR COOKING OILS
  • A23D9/00—Other edible oils or fats, e.g. shortenings or cooking oils
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23K—FODDER
  • A23K20/00—Accessory food factors for animal feeding-stuffs
  • A23K20/10—Organic substances
  • A23K20/158—Fatty acids; Fats; Products containing oils or fats
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF
  • A23L29/00—Foods or foodstuffs containing additives; Preparation or treatment thereof
  • A23L29/065—Microorganisms
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P3/00—Drugs for disorders of the metabolism
  • A61P3/02—Nutrients, e.g. vitamins, minerals
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11B—PRODUCING, e.g. BY PRESSING RAW MATERIALS OR BY EXTRACTION FROM WASTE MATERIALS, REFINING OR PRESERVING FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES, e.g. LANOLIN, FATTY OILS OR WAXES; ESSENTIAL OILS; PERFUMES
  • C11B1/00—Production of fats or fatty oils from raw materials
  • C11B1/10—Production of fats or fatty oils from raw materials by extracting
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
  • C12N1/00—Microorganisms, e.g. protozoa; Compositions thereof; Processes of propagating, maintaining or preserving microorganisms or compositions thereof; Processes of preparing or isolating a composition containing a microorganism; Culture media therefor
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
  • C12N1/00—Microorganisms, e.g. protozoa; Compositions thereof; Processes of propagating, maintaining or preserving microorganisms or compositions thereof; Processes of preparing or isolating a composition containing a microorganism; Culture media therefor
  • C12N1/12—Unicellular algae; Culture media therefor
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12P—FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE
  • C12P7/00—Preparation of oxygen-containing organic compounds
  • C12P7/64—Fats; Fatty oils; Ester-type waxes; Higher fatty acids, i.e. having at least seven carbon atoms in an unbroken chain bound to a carboxyl group; Oxidised oils or fats
  • C12P7/6409—Fatty acids
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
  • C12P—FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE
  • C12P7/00—Preparation of oxygen-containing organic compounds
  • C12P7/64—Fats; Fatty oils; Ester-type waxes; Higher fatty acids, i.e. having at least seven carbon atoms in an unbroken chain bound to a carboxyl group; Oxidised oils or fats
  • C12P7/6436—Fatty acid esters
  • C12P7/6445—Glycerides
  • C12P7/6472—Glycerides containing polyunsaturated fatty acid [PUFA] residues, i.e. having two or more double bonds in their backbone
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23V—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION
  • A23V2002/00—Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10S435/00—Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
  • Y10S435/8215—Microorganisms
  • Y10S435/911—Microorganisms using fungi

Definitions

• the present invention is directed to a novel process for growing microorganisms and recovering microbial Hpids.
• the present invention is directed to producing microbial polyunsaturated lipids.
• polyenoic fatty acids fatty acids containing 2 or more unsaturated carbon- carbon bonds
• eukaryotic microorganisms Production of polyenoic fatty acids (fatty acids containing 2 or more unsaturated carbon- carbon bonds) in eukaryotic microorganisms has been generally believed to require the presence of molecular oxygen (i.e., aerobic conditions). This is because it is believed that the cis double bond formed in the fatty acids of all non-parasitic eukaryotic microorganisms involves a direct oxygen-dependent desaturation reaction (oxidative microbial desaturase systems).
• Certain eukaryotic microbes have been demonstrated to be good producers of polyenoic fatty acids in fermentors.
• very high density cultivation greater than about 100 g/L microbial biomass, especially at commercial scale
• polyenoic fatty acid contents can lead to decreased polyenoic fatty acid contents and hence decreased polyenoic fatty acid productivity. This may be due in part to several factors including the difficulty of maintaining high dissolved oxygen levels due to the high oxygen demand developed by the high concentration of microbes in the fermentation broth.
• Methods to maintain higher dissolved oxygen level include increasing the aeration rate and/or using pure oxygen instead of air for aeration and/or increasing the agitation rate in the fermentor.
• Microbial cell breakage is an increased problem in cells that have undergone nitrogen limitation or depletion to induce lipid formation, resulting in weaker cell walls.
• lipid-producing eukaryotic microbes when lipid-producing eukaryotic microbes are grown at very high cell concentrations, their lipids generally contain only very small amounts of polyenoic fatty acids.
• the yeast Lipomyces starkeyi has been grown to a density of 153 g/L with resulting lipid concentration of 83 g/L in 140 hours using alcohol as a carbon source.
• Rhodotorula glutinus has been demonstrated to have an average lipid productivity of about 0.49 g/L/hr, but also a low overall polyenoic fatty acid content in its lipids (15.8% of total fatty acids, 14.7% C18:2 and 1.2% C18:3) resulting in a polyenoic fatty acid productivity in fed-batch culture of only about 0.047 g/L/hr and 0.077 g/L/hr in continuous culture.
• Thraustochytriales can be excellent producers of polyenoic fatty acids in fermentors, especially when grown at low salinity levels and especially at very low chloride levels.
• Others have described Thraustochytrids that exhibit an average polyenoic fatty acid (DHA, C22:6n-3; and DPA, C22:5n-6) productivity of about 0.158 g/L/hr, when grown to cell density of 59 g/L in
• the present invention provides a process for growing eukaryotic microorganisms that are capable of producing at least about 20% of their biomass as lipids and a method for producing the lipids.
• the lipids contain one or more polyenoic fatty acids.
• the process comprises adding to a fermentation medium comprising eukaryotic microorganisms a carbon source, preferably a non-alcohol carbon source, and a limiting nutrient source.
• the carbon source and the limiting nutrient source are added at a rate sufficient to increase the biomass density of the fermentation medium to at least about 100 g/L.
• the fermentation condition comprises a biomass density increasing stage and a lipid production stage, wherein the biomass density increasing stage comprises adding the carbon source and the limning nun lent nitrogen source, and the lipid production stage comprises adding the carbon source without adding the limiting nui ⁇ eni nitrogen source to create conditions which induce lipid production.
• the amount of dissolved oxygen present in the fermentation medium during the lipid production stage is lower than the amount of dissolved oxygen present in the fermentation medium during the biomass density increasing stage.
• microorganisms are selected from the group consisting of algae, fungi (including yeasts), protists, bacteria, and mixtures thereof, wherein the microorganisms are capable of producing polyenoic fatty acids or other lipids that had been generally believed to require molecular oxygen for their synthesis.
• Particularly useful microorganisms of the present invention are eukaryotic microorganisms that are capable of producing lipids at a fermentation medium oxygen level of about less than 3% of saturation.
• microorganisms are grown in a fed-batch process.
• Yet still another aspect of the present invention provides maintaining an oxygen level of less than about 3% of saturation in the fermentation medium during the second half of the fermentation process.
• Another embodiment of the present invention provides a process for producing eukaryotic microbial lipids comprising: (a) growing eukaryotic microorganisms in a fermentation medium to increase the biomass density of said fermentation medium to at least about 100 g/L;
• Another aspect of the present invention provides a lipid recovery process that comprises: (d) removing water from said fermentation medium to provide dry microorganisms; and (e) isolating said lipids from said dry microorganisms.
• the water removal step comprises contacting the fermentation medium directly on a drum-dryer without prior centrifugation.
• Another aspect of the present invention provides a lipid recovery process that comprises:
• the microbial cells are treated in step (c) in a fermentor or a similar vessel.
• a method for enriching the polyenoic fatty acid content of a microorganism includes fermenting the microorganisms in a growth medium having a level of dissolved oxygen of less than 10%.
• a further aspect of the invention is a heterotrophic process for producing products and microorganisms.
• the process includes culturing the microorganisms containing polyketide synthase genes in a growth medium and maintaining the level of dissolved oxygen in the culture at less than about 10 percent.
• Figure 1 is a table and a plot of various lipid production parameters of a microorganism versus the amount of dissolved oxygen in a fermentation medium.
• the present invention provides a process for growing microorganisms, such as, for example, algae, fungi (including yeast), protists, and bacteria.
• microorganisms are selected from the group consisting of algae, protists and mixtures thereof. More preferably, microorganisms are algae.
• the process of the present invention can be used to produce a variety of lipid compounds, in particular unsaturated lipids, preferably polyunsaturated lipids (i.e., lipids containing at least 2 unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds, e.g..
• lipids i.e., lipids containing 4 or more unsaturated carbon- carbon bonds
• omega-3 and/or omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids including docosahexaenoic acid (i.e., DHA); and other naturally occurring unsaturated, polyunsaturated and highly unsaturated compounds.
• DHA docosahexaenoic acid
• lipid includes phospholipids; free fatty acids; esters of fatty acids; triacylglycerols; sterols and sterol esters; carotenoids; xanthophylls (e.g., oxycarotenoids); hydrocarbons; isoprenoid-derived compounds and other lipids known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
• processes of the present invention are useful in producing eukaryotic microbial polyenoic fatty acids, carotenoids, fungal sterols, phytosterols, xanthophylls, ubiquinones, and other isoprenoid-derived compounds which had been generally believed to require oxygen for producing unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds (i.e., aerobic conditions), and secondary metabolites thereof.
• processes of the present invention are useful in growing microorganisms that produce polyenoic fatty acid(s), and for producing microbial polyenoic fatty acid(s).
• processes of the present invention can be used to grow a wide variety of microorganisms and to obtain polyunsaturated lipid containing compounds produced by the same, for the sake of brevity, convenience and illustration, this detailed description of the invention will discuss processes for growing microorganisms which are capable of producing lipids comprising omega-3 and/or omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, in particular microorganisms that are capable of producing DHA (or closely related compounds such as DPA, EPA or ARA).
• DHA or closely related compounds such as DPA, EPA or ARA
• Preferred microorganisms include microalgae, fungi (including yeast), protists and bacteria.
• One group of preferred microorganisms is the members of the microbial group called Stramenopiles which includes microalgae and algae-like microorganisms.
• Stramenopiles include the following groups of microorganisms: Hamatores, Proteromonads, Opalines, Developayella, Diplophrys, Labrinthulids, Thraustochytrids, Biosecids, Oomycetes, Hypochytridiomycetes, Commation, Reticulosphaera, Pelagomonas, Pelagococcus, Ollicola, Aureococcus, Parmales, Diatoms, Xanthophytes, Phaeophytes (brown algae), Eustigmatophytes, Raphidophytes, Synurids, Axodines (including Rhizochromulinaales,
• Other preferred groups of microalgae include the members of the green algae and dinoflagellates, including members of the genus Crypthecodium. More particularly, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be discussed with reference to a process for growing marine microorganisms, in particular algae, such as Thraustochytrids of the order Thraustochytriales, more specifically Thraustochytriales of the genus Thraustochytrium and Schizochytrium, including Thraustochytriales which are disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Patent Nos.
• Ulkenia is not a separate genus, but is in fact part of the genus Schizochytrium. As used herein, the genus Schizochytrium will include Ulkenia.
• Preferred microorganisms are those that produce the compounds of interest via polyketide synthase systems. Such microorganisms include microorganisms having an endogenous polyketide synthase system and microorganisms into which a polyketide synthase system has been genetically engineered.
• Polyketides are structurally diverse natural products that have a wide range of biological activities, including antibiotic and pharmacological properties. Biosynthesis of the carbon chain backbone of polyketides is catalyzed by polyketide synthases. Like the structurally and mechanistically related fatty acid synthases, polyketide synthases catalyze the repeated decarboxylative condensations between acyl thioesters that extend the carbon chain two carbons at a time. However, unlike fatty acid synthases, polyketide synthases can generate great structural variability in the end product.
• a heterotrophic process for producing products and microorganisms.
• the process preferably comprises culturing the microorganisms in a growth medium wherein the microorganisms contain a polyketide synthase system.
• the level of dissolved oxygen is maintained at less than about 8 percent, more preferably at less than about 4 percent, more preferably at less than about 3 percent, and more preferably at less than about 1 percent.
• processes of the present invention produces biomass density of at least about 100 g/L, more preferably at least about 130 g/L, still more preferably at least about 150 g/L, yet still more preferably at least about 170 g/L, and most preferably greater than 200 g/L.
• biomass density at least about 100 g/L, more preferably at least about 130 g/L, still more preferably at least about 150 g/L, yet still more preferably at least about 170 g/L, and most preferably greater than 200 g/L.
• Processes of the present invention for growing microorganisms of the order Thraustochytriales include adding a source of carbon and a source of a l imiting nutrient to a fermentation medium comprising the microorganisms at a rate sufficient to increase the biomass density of the fermentation medium to those described above.
• limiting nutrient source refers to a source of a nutrient (including the nutrient itself) essential for the growth of a microorganism in that, when the limiting nutrient is depleted from the growth medium, its absence substantially limits the microorganism from growing or replicating further. However, since the other nutrients are still in abundance, the organism can continue to make and accumulate intracellular and/or extracellular products.
• This fermentation process where one or more substrates (e.g., a carbon source and a ! ⁇ nvung nut ⁇ cni nitrogen source) are added in increments, is generally referred to as a fed-batch fermentation process. It has been found that when the substrate is added to a batch fermentation process the large amount of carbon source present (e.g., about 200 g/L or more per 60 g/L of biomass density) had a detrimental effect on the microorganisms.
• substrates e.g., a carbon source and a ! ⁇ nvung nut ⁇ cni nitrogen source
• Processes of the present invention for growing microorganisms can include a biomass density increasing stage.
• the primary objective of the fermentation process is to increase the biomass density in the fermentation medium to obtain the biomass density described above.
• the rate of carbon source addition is typically maintained at a particular level or range that does not cause a significant detrimental effect on productivity of microorganisms, or the viability of the microorganisms resulting from insufficient capabilities of the fermentation equipment to remove heat from and transfer gases to and from the liquid broth
• An appropriate range of the amount of carbon source needed for a particular microorganism during a fermentation process is well known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
• a carbon source of the present invention is a non-alcohol carbon source, i.e., a carbon source that does not contain alcohol.
• an "alcohol” refers to a compound having 4 or less carbon atoms with one hydroxy group, e.g., methanol, ethanol and isopropanolbut for the purpose of this invention does not include hydroxy organic acids such as lactic acid and similar compounds.
• a carbon source of the present invention is a carbohydrate, including, but not limited to, fructose, glucose, sucrose, molasses, and starch. Other suitable simple and complex carbon sources and nitrogen sources are disclosed in the above-referenced patents.
• a carbohydrate, preferably corn syrup is used as the primary carbon source.
• Fatty acids, in the form of hydroxy fatty acids, triglycerides, and di- and mono- glycerides can also serve as the carbon source
• nitrogen sources are urea, nitrate, nitrite, soy protein, amino acids, protein, corn steep liquor, yeast extract, animal by-products, inorganic ammonium salt, more preferably ammonium salts of sulfate, hydroxide, and most preferably ammonium hydroxide.
• Other limiting nutrient sources include carbon sources (as defined above), phosphate sources, vitamin sources (such as vitamin B] 2 sources, pantothenate sources, thiamine sources), and trace metal sources (such as zinc sources, copper sources, cobalt sources, nickel sources, iron sources, manganese sources, molybdenum sources), and major metal sources (such as magnesium sources, calcium sources, , sodium sources, potassium sources, and silica sources, etc.).
• Trace metal sources and major metal sources can include sulfate and chloride salts of these metals (for example but not limited to MgSO 4 «7H 2 0; MnCl 2 »4H 2 O; ZnS0 4 »7H 2 0; CoCl 2 «6H 2 0; Na 2 MoO 4 »2H 2 O; CuSO 4 »5H 2 0; NiS0 4 »6H 2 O; FeSO 4 »7H 2 O; CaCl 2 ; K 2 S0 4 ; KC1; and Na 2 S0 4 ).
• ammonium is used as a nitrogen source, the fermentation medium becomes acidic if it is not controlled by base addition or buffers.
• ammonium hydroxide When used as the primary nitrogen source, it can also be used to provide a pH control.
• a proper pH range for fermentation of a particular microorganism is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art.
• Processes of the present invention for growing microorganisms can also include a production stage.
• the primary use of the substrate by the microorganisms is not increasing the biomass density but rather using the substrate to produce lipids.
• lipids are also produced by the microorganisms during the biomass density increasing stage; however, as stated above, the primary goal in the biomass density increasing stage is to increase the biomass density.
• the addition of the limiting nutrient substrate is reduced or preferably stopped.
• the dissolved oxygen level in the fermentation medium during the biomass density increasing stage is preferably at least about 8% of saturation, and preferably at least about 4% of saturation
• the dissolved oxygen in the fermentation medium is reduced to about 3% of saturation or less, preferably about 1% of saturation or less, and more preferably about 0% of saturation.
• the DO can be at or near saturation and as the microbes grow it is allowed to drift down to these low DO setpoints.
• the amount of dissolved oxygen level in the fermentation medium is varied during the fermentation process.
• the dissolved oxygen level in the fermentation medium is maintained at about 8% during the first 24 hours, about 4% from about 24 th hour to about 40 th hour, and about 0.5%) or less from about 40 th hour to the end of the fermentation process.
• the amount of dissolved oxygen present in the fermentation medium can be controlled by controlling the amount of oxygen in the head-space of the fermentor, or preferably by controlling the speed at which the fermentation medium is agitated (or stirred). For example, a high agitation (or stirring) rate results in a relatively higher amount of dissolved oxygen in the fermentation medium than a low agitation rate.
• the agitation rate is set at from about 50 rpm to about 70 rpm during the first 12 hours, from about 55 rpm to about 80 rpm during about 12 th hour to about 18 th hour and from about 70 rpm to about 90 rpm from about 18 th hour to the end of the fermentation process to achieve the dissolved oxygen level discussed above for a total fermentation process time of from about 90 hours to about 100 hours.
• a particular range of agitation speeds needed to achieve a particular amount of dissolved oxygen in the fermentation medium can be readily determined by one of ordinary skill in the art.
• a preferred temperature for processes of the present invention is at least about 20°C, more preferably at least about 25°C, and most preferably at least about 30°C. It should be appreciated that cold water can retain a higher amount of dissolved oxygen than warm water. Thus, a higher fermentation medium temperature has the additional benefit of reducing the amount of dissolved oxygen, which is particularly desired as described above.
• Certain microorganisms may require a certain amount of saline minerals in the fermentation medium. These saline minerals, especially chloride ions, can cause corrosion of the fermentor and other downstream processing equipment. To prevent or reduce these undesired effects due to a relatively large amount of chloride ions present in the fermentation medium, processes of the present invention can also include using non-chloride containing sodium salts, preferably sodium sulfate, in the fermentation medium as a source of sodium. More particularly, a significant portion of the sodium requirements of the fermentation is supplied as non-chloride containing sodium salts. For example, less than about 75% of the sodium in the fermentation medium is supplied as sodium chloride, more preferably less than about 50% and more preferably less than about 25%.
• the microorganisms of the present invention can be grown at chloride concentrations of less than about 3 g/L, more preferably less than about 500 mg/L, more preferably less than about 250 mg/L and more preferably between about 60 mg/L and about 120 mg/L.
• Non-chloride containing sodium salts can include soda ash (a mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium oxide), sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium sulfate and mixtures thereof, and preferably include sodium sulfate. Soda ash, sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate tend to increase the pH of the fermentation medium, thus requiring control steps to maintain the proper pH of the medium.
• the concentration of sodium sulfate is effective to meet the salinity requirements of the microorganisms, preferably the sodium concentration is (expressed as g/L of Na) at least about 1 g/L, more preferably in the range of from about 1 g/L to about 50 g/L and more preferably in the range of from about 2 g/L to about 25 g/L.
• the very high biomass densities achieved in the present invention also facilitate "solventless" processes for recovery of microbial lipids.
• Preferred processes for lysing the cells in the fermentor are described in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/177,125 entitled “SOLVENTLESS EXTRACTION PROCESS” filed January 19, 2000, U.S. Patent Application Serial No. entitled “SOLVENTLESS EXTRACTION PROCESS” filed January 19, 2001, and PCT Patent Application Serial No. entitled
• the microorganisms are recovered in a dry form from the fermentation medium by evaporating water from the fermentation medium, for example, by contacting the fermentation medium directly (i.e., without pre-concentration, for example, by centrifugation) with a dryer such as a drum-dryer apparatus, i.e., a direct drum-dryer recovery process.
• a dryer such as a drum-dryer apparatus
• a direct drum-dryer recovery process typically a steam-heated drum-dryer is employed.
• the biomass density of the fermentation medium is preferably at least about 130 g/L, more preferably at least about 150 g/L, and most preferably at least about 180 g/L.
• Processes of the present invention provide an average lipid production rate of at least about 0.5 g/L/hr, preferably at least about 0.7 g/L/hr, more preferably at least about 0.9 g/L/hr, and most preferably at least about 1.0 g/L/hr.
• lipids produced by processes of the present invention contain polyunsaturated lipids in the amount greater than about 15%, preferably greater than about 20%, more preferably greater than about 25%, still more preferably greater than about 30%, and most preferably greater than about 35%.
• Lipids can be recovered from either dried microorganisms or from the microorganisms in the fermentation medium.
• At least about 20% of the lipids produced by the microorganisms in the processes of the present invention are omega-3 and/or omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, preferably at least about 30% of the lipids are omega-3 and/or omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, more preferably at least about 40% of the lipids are omega-3 and/or omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and most preferably at least about 50% of the lipids are omega-3 and/or omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
• processes of the present invention provides an average omega-3 fatty acid (e.g...
• DHA DHA production rate of at least about 0.2 g of omega-3 fatty acid (e.g., DHA)/L/hr, preferably at least about 0.3 g of omega-3 fatty acid (e.g., DHA)/L/hr, more preferably at least about 0.4 g of omega-3 fatty acid (e.g., DHA)/L/hr, and most preferably at least about 0.5 g of omega-3 fatty acid (e.g., DHA)/L/hr.
• omega-3 fatty acid e.g., DHA
• processes of the present invention provide an average omega-6 fatty acid (e.g., DPAn-6) production rate of at least about 0.07 g of omega-6 fatty acid (e.g., DPAn-6)/L/hr, preferably at least about 0.1 g of omega-6 fatty acid (e.g., DPAn-6)/L/hr, more preferably at least about 0.13 g of omega-6 fatty acid (e.g., DPAn-6)/L/hr, and most preferably at least about 0.17 g of omega-6 fatty acid (e.g., DPAn-6)/L/hr.
• at least about 25% of the lipid is DHA (based on total fatty acid methyl ester), preferably at least about 30%, more preferably at least about 35%, and most preferably at least about 40%.
• Microorganisms, lipids extracted therefrom, the biomass remaining after lipid extraction or combinations thereof can be used directly as a food ingredient, such as an ingredient in beverages, sauces, dairy based foods (such as milk, yogurt, cheese and ice-cream) and baked goods; nutritional supplement (in capsule or tablet forms); feed or feed supplement for any animal whose meat or products are consumed by humans; food supplement, including baby food and infant formula; and pharmaceuticals (in direct or adjunct therapy application).
• the term "animal” means any organism belonging to the kingdom Animalia and includes, without limitation, any animal from which poultry meat, seafood, beef, pork or lamb is derived. Seafood is derived from, without limitation, fish, shrimp and shellfish.
• product includes any product other than meat derived from such animals, including, without limitation, eggs, milk or other products.
• polyunsaturated lipids can be incorporated into the flesh, milk, eggs or other products of such animals to increase their content of these lipids.
• DHAn-3 and DPAn-6 in the ratio of generally about 3: 1, and small amounts of other polyenoic acids, such as EPA and C20:3, under a wide variety of fermentation conditions.
• DHA polyenoic acid
• DPA(n-6) the amount of DPA(n-6) produced by using the above-disclosed ratio.
• This example illustrates the effect of oxygen content in a fermentation medium on lipid productivity.
• This example also illustrates the effect of low oxygen content in the fermentation medium on DHA content (% dry weight) of the final biomass product.
• This culture media consisted of the following on a per liter basis dissolved in deionized water: Na 2 SO 4 12.61g; MgSO 4 »7H 2 O 1.2g; KC1 0.25 g; CaCl 2 0.05 g; monosodium glutamate 7.0 g; glucose 10 g; KH 2 PO 0.5 g; NaHCO 3 0.1 g; yeast extract 0.1 g; vitamin mix 1.0 mL; PII metals 1.00 mL.
• PII metal mix contains (per liter): 6.0 g Na 2 EDTA, 0.29 g FeCl 3 »6H 2 0, 6.84 g H 3 BO 3 , 0.86 g MnCl 2 «4H 2 O, 0.06 g ZnCl 2 , 0.026 g CoCl 2 «6H 2 O, 0.052 g NiSO 4 »H 2 0, 0.002 CuSO 4 »H 2 O and 0.005 g Na 2 Mo0 »2H 2 0.
• Vitamin mix contains (per liter): 100 mg thiamine, 0.5 mg biotin and 0.5 mg cyanocobalamin. The pH of the culture media was adjusted to 7.0 and it was then filter sterilized.
• Each of the eight flasks was inoculated with cells from a 48 hour old culture of Schizochytrium cultured in O4-4 medium under the conditions in treatment 1, and at 28°C and 220 rpm on a shaker table. All eight flasks for the experiment were placed on a shaker table (220 rpm) in a incubator (28°C) and cultured for 48 hours in the dark. At the end of the experiment, dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in each flask were measured with a YSI dissolved oxygen meter, pH of the culture medium was also determined, and the dry weight of cells and their fatty acid content was also measured. The results of the experiment are outlined in Table 1.
• Microorganisms were produced using fermentors with a nominal working volume of 1,200 gallons. The resulting fermentation broth was concentrated and microorganisms were dried using a drum-dryer. Lipids from aliquots of the resulting microorganisms were extracted and purified to produce a refined, bleached, and deodorized oil. Approximately 3,000 ppm of d- 1- ⁇ -tocopheryl acetate was added for nutritional supplementation purposes prior to analysis of the lipid.
• Table 2 The dissolved oxygen level was about 8% during the first 24 hours and about 4% thereafter. Table 2.
• DHA content as % cell dry weight.
• total fatty acid content as % cell dry weight (measured as methyl esters).
• coefficients of variability Coefficients of variability values below 5% indicate a process which has excellent reproducibility, values between 5% and 10% indicate a process which has good reproducibility and values between 10% and 20% indicate a process which has reasonable reproducibility.
• Corn syrup was fed until the volume in the fermentor reached about 1 ,200 gallons, at which time the corn syrup addition was stopped. The fermentation process was stopped once the residual sugar concentration fell below 5 g/L. The typical age, from inoculation to final, was about 100 hours.
• the fermentation broth i.e., fermentation medium, was diluted with water using approximately a 2: 1 ratio to reduce the ash content of the final product and help improve phase separation during the centrifugation step.
• the concentrated cell paste was heated to 160° F (about 71° C) and dried on a Blaw Knox double-drum dryer (42"x36"). Preferably, however, microorganisms are dried directly on a drum-dryer without prior centrifugation.
• coefficients of variability Coefficients of variability values below 5% indicates a process which has excellent reproducibility, values between 5% and 10% indicates a process which has good reproducibility and values between 10% and 20%) indicates a process which has reasonable reproducibility.
• the fermentation medium used throughout the Examples section includes the following ingredients, where the first number indicates nominal target concentration and the number in parenthesis indicates acceptable range: sodium sulfate 12 g/L (11-13); KC10. g/L (0.45-0.55); MgSO 4 »7H 2 O 2 g/L ( 1.8-2.2); Hodag K-60 antifoam 0.35 g/L (0.3-0.4); K 2 SO, 0.65 g/L (0.60-0.70); KH 2 PO 4 1 g/L (0.9-1.1); (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 1 g/L (0.95-1.1); CaCl 2 «2H 2 0 0.1 g/L (0.15-0.19); 95 DE com syrup (solids basis) 4.5 g/L (2-10); MnCl 2 »4H 2 0 3 mg/L (2.7-3.3); ZnSO 4 »7H 2 O 3 mg/L (2.7-3.3); CoCl 2 «6H 2 O 0.04 mg/L (0.035-0.045
• the ash content of the dried microorganisms is about 6% by weight.
• This example illustrates the effect of reduced dissolved oxygen level in the fermentation medium on the productivity of microorganisms at the 14,000-gallon scale.
• Example 3 Using the procedure described in Example 3, a 14,000-gallon nominal volume fermentation was conducted using a wild-type strain Schizochytrium, which can be obtained using isolation processes disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. Patent Nos. 5,340,594 and 5,340,742.
• the dissolved oxygen level in the fermentation medium was about 8% during the first 24 hours, about 4% from the 24 th hour to the 40 th hour and about 0.5% from the 40 th hour to the end of fermentation process. Results of this lower dissolved oxygen level in fermentation medium processes are shown in Table 4.
• This example illustrates the effect of reduced dissolved oxygen level in the fermentation medium on the productivity of microorganisms on a 41,000-gallon scale.
• Example 4 The same procedures as Example 4 were employed except that the fermentation was conducted in a 41,000-gallon fermentor. Culture media volumes were increased to maintain target compound concentrations at this scale. Results are shown in Table 5. Table 5. 41,000-gallon scale fermentation of Schizochytrium
• This example illustrates the affect of extra nitrogen on the fermentation process of the present invention.
• This example shows a kinetic profile of a fermentation process of the present invention.
• a 1000-gallon scale fed-batch experiment was conducted using a procedure similar to Example 4.
• Kinetic profile of the fermentation process is shown in Table 7.
• Table 7. Kinetic Profile for a 1 ,000-gallon scale Fed-Batch fermentation of Schizochytrium .
• This example illustrates affect of the amount of carbon source on productivity.
• This example illustrates the effect of nutrient limitation on carbon conversion efficiency to biomass, lipid and most specifically DHA.
• a continuous culture experiment to investigate the effect of nutrient limitation was performed by culturing Schizochytrium ATCC No. 20888 in a 2-liter volume Applikon fermentor in basal growth (ICM-2) medium consisting of the following compounds (nominal concentration): Group I ingredients: Na 2 SO 4 (18.54 g/L), MgSO 4 »7H 2 0 (2.0 g/L) and KCL (0.572 g/L); Group II ingredients (each prepared separately): glucose (43.81 g/L), KH 2 PO 4 (1.28 g/L), CaCl 2 »2H 2 0 (0.025 g/L) and (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 (6.538 g/L); Group III ingredients: Na 2 EDTA (6.0 mg/L), FeCl 3 »6H 2 0 (0.29 mg/L), H 3 BO 3 (6.84 mg/L), MnCl 2 »4
• Groups I and II were autoclave sterilized, while Groups III and IV were filter sterilized prior to adding to the fermentor.
• the growth medium was then inoculated with Schizochytrium and grown under controlled conditions of 30°C, pH 5.5 and dissolved oxygen of 20% of saturation until maximum cell density was achieved.
• a continuous operation mode was then established by simultaneously pumping sterile ICM-2 feed medium into the fermentor and removing the broth containing Schizochytrium cells at a flowrate sufficient to maintain a dilution rate of 0.06hr _1 , until a steady state is reached.
• the compound containing the specified required nutrient is lowered in the ICM-2 feed medium such that this nutrient is depleted in the outlet cell-containing broth, so that growth of the cells is limited by absence of the particular required nutrient.
• steady state operation was established for each condition, final broth dry biomass, residual glucose, and limiting nutrient concentrations, lipid content of the cell and DHA content of the cells were measured.
• lipid content of dry biomass g lipid (as FAME)/g dry biomass
• DHA content of dry biomass g DHA/g dry biomass
• the present invention in various embodiments, includes components, methods, processes, systems and/or apparatus substantially as depicted and described herein, including various embodiments, subcombinations, and subsets thereof. Those of skill in the art will understand how to make and use the present invention after understanding the present disclosure.
• the present invention in various embodiments, includes providing devices and processes in the absence of items not depicted and/or described herein or in various embodiments hereof, including in the absence of such items as may have been used in previous devices or processes, e.g., for improving performance, achieving ease and ⁇ or reducing cost of implementation.

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