Prevalence of PUFA Rich Thraustochytrids sps. along the Coast of Mumbai for Production of Bio Oil

Abstract

Aims: To obtain axenic cultures of Thraustochytrids and assess the diversity of Thraustochytrids spps within the mangrove regions of Mumbai for their ability to produce DHA. Methods and Results: Samples obtained from various mangrove regions in and around the Mumbai coastline were screened for presence of Thraustochytrids cultures. Modified procedures involving use of various media and antibiotic treatment regimes were formulated to obtain axenic cultures of Thraustochytrids. Though 40% of the samples under study showed presence of pollen baitable Thraustochytrids, only 5% of these spps could be recovered through direct isolation techniques on the conventional penicillin streptomycin B1 agar plate. In contrast, use of antibiotic cocktail during baiting lead to better recovery such that 57.14% of all the positive pollen baited samples were able to be recovered as axenic isolates on isolation on antibiotic laden B1 agar. For most of the isolates the fatty acid profile range between 60 to 76% of their dry cell mass; with total fatty acid content of 5.92±0.41 g L -1 of which 1.97±0.08 g L -1 was DHA. Conclusion: Though marine mangrove environments are known habitat of Thraustochytrids its axenic cultivation is a challenge especially as the profile of contaminating bacteria and fungi within polluted areas varies from that within pristine locales. Removal of bacteria and fungi from an environment loaded with an higher organic load required mixture of three antibiotics and one antifungal; rifampicin (300 mg l ) to be incorporated in seawater samples for a minimum of 2 days so that Thraustochytrids could be selectively isolated from the Indian Mangrove region,. Significance and Impact of Study: This data represents the first extensive study on the prevalence of Thraustochytrids across the coast of Mumbai and the combination of antibiotics that need to be used for its effective recovery.

Thraustochytrids of Mangrove Habitats from Andaman Islands: Species Diversity, PUFA Profiles and Biotechnological Potential

“…Notably, Schizochytrium strains were isolated in Guptapara, which is a pristine mangrove habitat in the western part of the south Andaman. The presence of thraustochytrids have been reported only in limited areas of Indian mangrove regions such as Goa [ 34 ], Kerala [ 35 ], Mumbai [ 36 ], and Tamil Nadu [ 19 , 22 , 25 , 26 ]. Thraustochytrids for many mangrove habitats of global mangroves have still been poorly studied.…”

Polyunsaturated fatty acid-producing marine thraustochytrids: A potential source for antimicrobials

“…Thraustochytrids species are found abundantly in decomposing mangrove leaf litter [15,16]. The fungi, including thraustochytrids produce many hydrolytic enzymes and a variety of bioactive compounds to supply nutrients associated with organisms during leaf litter decomposition [8,[16][17][18][19][20][21]. In order to compete with other microbes for survival and multiplication, thraustochytrids are required to produce antimicrobial substances.…”