Universal Foods Corporation

Richard D Medwid

Michael J Yarus

Donald L Heefner

Randal A Hassler

Elizabeth A Campbell

Steve A Orndorff

Hans H Liao

Kathleen S Sniff

A culture for the production of xanthophylls comprising Nospongiococcum excentricum ATCC 40335 and mutants thereof. The culture having a dry cell weight xanthophyll content of at least about 0.65% and being capable of growing to a cell density of greater than about 40 grams per liter. The culture also comprising: carbon, phosphate, sulfate, iron, magnesium, and nitrogen.

Carotenoid producing culture using Nespongiococcum excentricum

The present invention is directed toward a process for producing zeaxanthin which includes mutating algal microorganisms, selecting from said mutated microorganisms a microorganism capable of producing zeaxanthin, culturing the selected microorganism in an effective medium to produce zeaxanthin, and recovering zeaxanthin produced by the selected microorganism. The present invention also provides microorganisms capable of producing zeaxanthin, formulations containing zeaxanthin produced by the disclosed process and the use of such formulations to enhance pigmentation and to reduce damage caused by reactive oxygen species and phototoxic molecules.

Zeaxanthin producing strains of Neospongiococcum Excentricum

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Fort Collins, CO, United States of America

Richard D Medwid