The invention relates to a novel method to produce small RNAs targeting pathogenicity factors, essential genes and/or antimicrobial resistance genes of animal pathogens. This method also includes the production of small RNAs directed against host susceptibility factors, whose silencing, inactivation, or deletion, is known to enhance resistance towards the targeted pathogen(s). More specifically, the invention involves the expression of exogenous RNA interference (RNAi) precursor(s) in Chlorella cells, which in turn express and release Extracellular Vesicle (EV)-embedded antimicrobial small RNAs. Importantly, Chlorella EVs protect antimicrobial small RNAs from ribonuclease-mediated digestion. They are also rapidly and efficiently internalized by human alveolar epithelial cells, highlighting their potential for delivering antimicrobial small RNAs in these cells, and for controlling respiratory infections. The invention can thus be used for prophylactic or therapeutic treatments, to reduce various infectious diseases in animals, including humans. Furthermore, because the integrity and functionality of Chlorella EVs remain unaltered when produced in photobioreactors, and when stored frozen, this novel method has the potential to be further exploited for the industrialization of EV-based anti-infective products.

This disclosure describes modified photosynthetic microorganisms, including Cyanobacteria that have a reduced amount of a light harvesting protein (LHP) and contain one or more introduced or overexpressed polynucleotides encoding one or more enzymes associated with lipid biosynthesis, and which are capable of producing increased amounts of fatty acids and/or synthesizing triglycerides.

Provided herein are microalgal skin care compositions and methods of improving the health and appearance of skin. Also provided are methods of using polysaccharides for applications such as topical personal care products, cosmetics, and wrinkle reduction compositions. The invention also provides novel decolorized microalgal compositions useful for improving the health and appearance of skin. The invention also includes insoluble polysaccharide particles for application to human skin.

The invention provides recombinant algal mutants that have a genetic modification to a gene or nucleic acid sequence encoding a WD40 repeat containing protein or domain. The genetic modification of one or more nucleic acid sequences encoding a WD40 repeat containing protein or domain results in a mutant organism with increased lipid productivity and/or higher biomass productivity (as measured by total organic carbon). The genetic modification can be a gene attenuation or functional deletion. The lipid products of these mutants can be utilized as biofuels or for other specialty chemical products. Methods of making and using the recombinant algal mutants and methods of producing lipids are also disclosed.

Culturing S. glucoliberatum PABB004 under conditions effective for the S. glucoliberatum PABB004 to secrete simple sugars into culture medium. In one or more embodiments, the conditions include a pH of 6.0 to 8.5. In some cases, the culture can include a second organism. A co-culture includes S. glucoliberatum PABB004 and a second organism, wherein the co-culture has a pH of 6.0 or greater. In one or more embodiments, the second organism is selected to produce a product of interest such as, for example, ethanol.

The present invention relates to a new alga having an improved ability to produce a pigment, and when a mutant of the present invention is used, a carotenoid-based pigment, specifically, a xanthophyll can be produced by consuming less energy, so that it is possible to efficiently produce the pigment at the industrial level. Further, the pigment can be applied as a raw material for a food, a health functional food and a medicine, which include the pigment. In particular, since a DNA fragment is not likely to be inserted into a target base sequence or a base sequence other than the target, it is expected that the procedure of constructing the mutant is not regulated as a GMO, so that it is expected that the procedure of constructing the mutant can create a big economic effect in terms of an industry which produces lutein and zeaxanthin by using microalgae.

The present invention relates to a method for rapid detection of toxicity comprising preparing a plant gel agar and a sample; mixing the agar gel with the sample to form a mixture; and measuring a coagulation time of the mixture to determine the cytotoxicity of the sample.

The present invention is directed to isolated thraustochytrid microorganisms as well as strains and mutants thereof The invention is further directed to biomasses, microbial oils, compositions, cultures, methods of producing microbial oils, and methods of using the isolated thraustochytrids, biomasses, and microbial oils.

The present invention relates to recombinant cyanobacterial cells for the production of a chemical compound of interest. In particular, the present invention relates to genetic modifications that introduce one or more heterologous phosphopantetheinyl transferases (PPTases) into a cyanobacterial cell. These cells can, optionally, further comprise heterologous carrier protein and nucleic acid constructs that provide the cyanobacterial cells with the capability of producing chemicals of interest or compounds of interest, such secondary metabolites polyketides, nonribosomal peptides and their hybrids, the three major families of bioactive natural products, of cyanobacteria and other bacterial phyla, secondary metabolites analogs, and unnatural compounds.

Disclosed are modified strains of Chlorella microalgae species, the modified strains having a reduced chitin content. Also disclosed is a method for producing them. The method involves performing mutagenesis of a parent strain of the microalgae. Furthermore, disclosed is a composition comprising algae biomass derived from the modified strains and their use in food and/or cosmetics amongst other applications. Advantages of the low chitin content include aiding digestibility and nutrient availability of the whole-cell ingredient without further downstream processing.