Isolation, fatty acid profiles and cryopreservation of marine thraustochytrids from mangrove habitats in Thailand

Abstract

Abstract Thraustochytrids, marine protists, have attracted attention as a proven alternative source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). We isolated a high diversity of thraustochytrids from Thailand and tested their potential use in the production of high-value fatty acids. The isolated thraustochytrids can be categorized into seven major groups based on unique morphological features, molecular phylogeny and fatty acid profiles. Two of the seven isolated thraustochytrid groups could potentially be new lineages in the Labyrinthulomycetes. The production of total fatty acid (TFA) from these thraustochytrids ranged from 2.4 to 35.6% (w/w), with biomass varying from 0.3 to 8.9 g l