Multiproduct biorefinery from marine thraustochytrids towards a circular bioeconomy

• Published in: Trends in biotechnology (Regular ed.) Vol. 40; no. 4; pp. 448 - 462
• Main Authors: Gupta, Adarsha, Barrow, Colin J., Puri, Munish
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2022; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Algae; Aquaculture; Aquaculture feeds; astaxanthin; Bioactive compounds; bioactives; Biodiesel fuels; Biofuels; Biological activity; Biorefineries; Biotechnology; cell factories; Cost analysis; Dietary Supplements; Exopolysaccharides; Fatty acids; Functional foods & nutraceuticals; Lipids; Marine environment; Microalgae - chemistry; Nanotechnology; nutraceuticals; Nutrient solutions; omega-3 fatty acids; Production costs; Refining; single cell oil; Squalene; Stramenopiles; vegan; United States > US; bioactives; single cell oil; nutraceuticals; omega-3 fatty acids; vegan; cell factories; astaxanthin
• ISSN: 0167-7799; 1879-3096
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2021.09.003

Microalgal biotechnology research continues to expand due to largely unexplored marine environments and growing consumer interest in healthy products. Thraustochytrids, which are marine oleaginous protists, are known for their production of bioactives with significant applications in nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and aquaculture. A wide range of high-value biochemicals, such as nutritional supplements (omega-3 fatty acids), squalene, exopolysaccharides (EPSs), enzymes, aquaculture feed, and biodiesel and pigment compounds, have been investigated. We discuss thraustochytrids as potential feedstocks to produce various bioactive compounds and advocate developing a biorefinery to offset production costs. We anticipate that future advances in cell manufacturing, lipidomic analysis, and nanotechnology-guided lipid extraction would facilitate large-scale cost-competitive production through these microbes. Thraustochytrids, oleaginous protists with a unique lipid profile that contain omega-3 fatty acids, are promising players for bioproduction.Tuning the heterotrophic fermentation process leads to interesting fatty acid profiles that are suitable for the emerging functional food and vegan meat industries.Innovation in downstream processing improves cost effectiveness and product yields.Extracting and isolating valuable coproducts would enhance productivity and profitability of a thraustochytrid biorefinery.