Production of High-Value Products by Marine Microalgae Thraustochytrids

Abstract

This chapter focuses on some advances in the biotechnological applications of thraustochytrids with an emphasis on the production of various high-value products. Moreover, the use of thraustochytrids as feed additives in aquaculture and the poultry industry as well as safety issues that concern their biotechnological applications are also addressed in the chapter. Microalgae represent a largely under-exploited group of natural resources with a tremendous potential to produce high-value natural products. Thraustochytrids not only play an important role in the ecosystem as nutrient recyclers, but also serve as a supreme source of single cell oils with great commercial prospects. Through years of dedicated scientific efforts, the commercial production of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) using thraustochytrids as single-cell factories has now become a reality, and thraustochytrid-derived products have entered the marketplace as aquaculture feed and (polyunsaturated fatty acids)PUFA-fortified food for the fishery and healthcare sectors. The elucidation of DHA biosynthetic pathways in thraustochytrids using molecular techniques represents an exciting and potentially rewarding subject for future research.