Institute of Mechanical, Process & Energy Engineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK.
CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia.
Biotechnol Adv. 2018 Jan-Feb;36(1):26-46. doi: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2017.09.003. Epub 2017 Sep 11.
Thraustochytrids were first discovered in 1934, and since the 1960's they have been increasingly studied for their beneficial and deleterious effects. This review aims to provide an enhanced understanding of these protists with a particular emphasis on their taxonomy, ecology and biotechnology applications. Over the years, thraustochytrid taxonomy has improved with the development of modern molecular techniques and new biochemical markers, resulting in the isolation and description of new strains. In the present work, the taxonomic history of thraustochytrids is reviewed, while providing an up-to-date classification of these organisms. It also describes the various biomarkers that may be taken into consideration to support taxonomic characterization of the thraustochytrids, together with a review of traditional and modern techniques for their isolation and molecular identification. The originality of this review lies in linking taxonomy and ecology of the thraustochytrids and their biotechnological applications as producers of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), carotenoids, exopolysaccharides and other compounds of interest. The paper provides a summary of these aspects while also highlighting some of the most important recent studies in this field, which include the diversity of polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism in thraustochytrids, some novel strategies for biomass production and recovery of compounds of interest. Furthermore, a detailed overview is provided of the direct and current applications of thraustochytrid-derived compounds in the food, fuel, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and aquaculture industries and of some of the commercial products available. This review is intended to be a source of information and references on the thraustochytrids for both experts and those who are new to this field.
厚壳贻贝于 1934 年首次被发现，自 20 世纪 60 年代以来，它们因其有益和有害的影响而受到越来越多的研究。本综述旨在提供对这些原生动物的更深入理解，特别强调它们的分类学、生态学和生物技术应用。多年来，随着现代分子技术和新的生化标记物的发展，厚壳贻贝的分类学得到了改善，导致新菌株的分离和描述。在目前的工作中，回顾了厚壳贻贝的分类学历史，同时提供了这些生物体的最新分类。它还描述了各种生物标志物，这些标志物可用于支持厚壳贻贝的分类特征描述，同时回顾了用于其分离和分子鉴定的传统和现代技术。本综述的原创性在于将厚壳贻贝的分类学和生态学与其作为二十二碳六烯酸（DHA）、类胡萝卜素、胞外多糖和其他有价值化合物的生产者的生物技术应用联系起来。本文总结了这些方面，同时还强调了该领域一些最重要的最新研究，包括厚壳贻贝多不饱和脂肪酸代谢的多样性、一些用于生物质生产和有价值化合物回收的新策略。此外，还详细概述了厚壳贻贝衍生化合物在食品、燃料、化妆品、制药和水产养殖行业的直接和当前应用，以及一些可用的商业产品。本综述旨在为专家和该领域的新手提供有关厚壳贻贝的信息和参考资料。
