Volvox-derived beads, a method for the production thereof, and their uses as a scaffold for animal cell culture, in a method of culturing animal cells and in a method of engineering tissue and tissue-like structures. Also, compositions and pharmaceutical compositions including engineered tissue and tissue-like structures and to the cosmetic and therapeutic uses thereof.

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.

Water-responsive actuators and methods for creating water responsive actuators are disclosed. In some embodiments, the disclosed subject matter includes a first layer, for example a plastic tape, and a second layer, for example bacterial spores and cured adhesive. The second layer can be created in a pattern. The pattern can include joints, which can contract when exposed to dry air and can thereby bend the actuator, and can expand when exposed to humid air and thereby return the actuator its original position.

A method of producing a transformant, which contains using an alga belonging to the genus Nannochloropsis as a host, wherein function of the following protein (A) or (B) of the alga is suppressed, inhibited or deleted: (A) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 50; and (B) a DNA binding protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 70% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of the protein (A).

Disclosed are techniques and systems for producing microbials having anaplerotic oils that are rich in odd-chain fatty acids, and other beneficial components, at higher concentrations than those present in other natural dietary sources of OCFA, at lower cost, and higher production yield. Further, disclosed are examples of incorporation of these higher concentration OCFA products into food for human and non-human animal consumption.

Provided is a component having plant defense activity. A PR1 gene expression activator containing a culture of a unicellular alga containing a green photosynthetic pigment as an active ingredient; A plant defense activator containing a culture of a unicellular alga containing a green photosynthetic pigment as an active ingredient; A plant disease preventive or ameliorating agent containing a culture of a unicellular alga containing a green photosynthetic pigment as an active ingredient; and a method of producing a plant defense activating component containing: cultivating a unicellular alga containing a green photosynthetic pigment under an aerobic condition to produce a culture containing an extracellular polysaccharide.

According to the invention, it has been found that when the amount of sulfate used in the culturing of PUFAs-producing cells is selected such that the sulfate concentration drops to zero in the last phase of the growth phase of the cells, an easily disruptable biomass is obtained which has an increased proportion by mass of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the final product.

A novel alga mutant having improved pigment productivity is provided. The mutant can be used to produce carotenoid-based pigments, particularly, xanthophyll by using a small amount of energy, and thus can effectively produce pigment on an industrial level. In addition, the mutant can be used as a source for foods, health functional foods, and medications which contain a pigment. Further, when account is taken of the physiological characteristics of the euryhaline microalgae Dunaliella and the geological characteristics of Korean, the three sides of which are in contact with the sea, sea-water can be used as a culture medium, with the expectation of reducing the cost and leading to the development of related industries.

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

The invention provides methods of transforming photosynthetic organisms, such as green algae. The methods involve methylating one or more DNA fragments of a DNA construct and transforming the one or more fragments into the photosynthetic organism. The DNA fragments can be the product of a DNA amplification procedure, such as PCR or a PCR-like procedure. In one embodiment the one or more fragments of DNA that comprise a DNA construct are dam methylated prior to being transformed into the photosynthetic organism.