Advances in isolation and preservation strategies of ecologically important marine protists, the thraustochytrids (Chapter 30)

Abstract

Labyrinthulomycetes, popularly known as thraustochytrids, are marine protists that have gained increased importance in recent years due to their ability to produce polyunsaturated fatty acids such as omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in large amounts. These fatty acids being nutritionally important are consumed as dietary supplements and hence these organisms are exploited commercially for DHA. In addition to a biotechnological role, these organisms are seeking attention due to their ecological role in marine ecosystem that was previously overlooked. Their saprophytic nature and ubiquitous presence in marine environment calls for an in-depth understanding of these organisms. Isolating them from the marine environment is the first step toward this. Despite having an osmoheterotrophic mode of nutrition similar to bacteria, the isolation procedures are not the same as those employed for bacteria. Rather, their isolation technique is the same as that for zoosporic fungi under which they were classified before. Now they are grouped as Stramenopiles and known as fungal-like organisms. This chapter deals with various isolation techniques of these organisms and their preservation.