Microbial Lipid Production for DHA and EPA Purity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for obtaining highly unsaturated fatty acids like DHA and EPA from fish sources face challenges such as flavor taints, variability in availability, and contamination with environmental pollutants, making it difficult to produce highly purified (n-3) or (n-6) oils effectively.
Innovation Solution
A lipid composition produced by Thraustochytrium microorganisms, such as ONC-T18, which includes 25-40 wt.% DHA, 6-10 wt.% DPA, and 0-3 wt.% EPA, along with myristic acid, palmitoleic acid, or carotenoids, providing a stable and reliable source of these fatty acids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If fish oil is used as the sole source of highly unsaturated fatty acids, then DHA and EPA can be obtained, but flavor taint, uncontrollable fluctuations in availability, and accumulation of harmful environmental pollutants occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses microorganisms (Thraustochytrium and Schizochytrium species) as intermediary organisms to produce DHA and EPA through fermentation, replacing direct extraction from fish. These microbial cells act as mediators that convert simple carbon sources into complex polyunsaturated fatty acids, eliminating the need to process fish tissue and its associated contaminants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs single-cell oils from microorganisms as a temporary, easily producible alternative to fish oil. These microbial biomass products can be rapidly generated through fermentation processes using inexpensive carbon sources, providing a disposable yet renewable supply of highly unsaturated fatty acids without the longevity and contamination issues of fish-derived products.
2Quantity of substance
If fish oil is used as the sole source of highly unsaturated fatty acids, then DHA and EPA can be obtained, but uncontrollable fluctuations in availability and natural fish oil content variability occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the production system from natural fish tissue to controlled microbial fermentation. By adjusting fermentation parameters such as carbon source composition, temperature, pH, and aeration, the microbial cells can be induced to produce consistent, high levels of DHA and EPA. This controlled parameter adjustment ensures stable availability and composition regardless of seasonal or environmental variations affecting fish populations.
Solution Approach 2:
The microorganisms serve themselves by converting simple, inexpensive carbon sources (such as sugars, starches, or even waste streams) into complex polyunsaturated fatty acids through their own metabolic pathways. This self-service capability eliminates dependence on external fish sources and their natural variability, allowing consistent production through controlled fermentation conditions.
3Manufacturing precision
If highly purified (n-3) or (n-6) oil is obtained from fish sources, then fatty acid purity is improved, but separation and purification become very difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts DHA and EPA directly from microbial cell membranes where they are naturally concentrated, rather than attempting to separate them from complex fish oil mixtures. The single-cell oil from Thraustochytrium and Schizochytrium species contains highly concentrated PUFAs that can be extracted through simple solvent methods, bypassing the need for complex fractionation processes required for fish oil purification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves fatty acid purity by producing a homogeneous microbial biomass where the cells themselves are the uniform source of PUFAs. The single-cell oil from these microorganisms has a more uniform fatty acid composition compared to fish oil, allowing for simpler purification processes that rely on the homogeneity of the microbial source rather than complex separation of heterogeneous fish tissue components.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are compositions and methods related to eukaryotic microorganisms that can produce unsaturated fatty acids which can be purified and used.