Enhanced production of lipids containing polyenoic fatty acids by very high density cultures of eukaryotic microbes in fermentors
AssigneeDsm IP Assets B.V.
InventorsRichard B. BAILEY, Don DIMASI, Jon Milton HANSEN, Peter J. MIRRASOUL, III, Craig M. RUECKER, George T. VEEDER, Tatsuo KANEKO, William R. BARCLAY
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Abstract
The present invention provides a process for growing eukaryotic microorganisms which are capable of producing lipids, in particular lipids containing polyenoic fatty acids. The present invention also provides a process for producing eukaryotic microbial lipids.
Claims23
-22. (canceled)
A biomass of microorganisms having highly unsaturated fatty acids, wherein said biomass is produced by a process of conducting a fermentation of the microorganisms in a fermentation medium comprising a carbon source and a limiting nutrient source, the process comprising:
- a) providing the fermentation medium comprising the carbon source and the limiting nutrient source;
- b) adding the microorganisms to the fermentation medium;
- c) adding an additional amount of the carbon source and limiting nutrient source to the fermentation medium to increase the biomass density of the fermentation medium to at least about 100 g/L on a dry cell weight basis;
- d) adding an additional amount of the carbon source while limiting the amount of limiting nutrient source added to the formulation medium to induce lipid production by the microorganisms;
- and
- wherein the microorganisms are of the order Thraustochytriales, and produce at least 15% by weight of the dry cell weight of the biomass as lipids.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.