Abstract: Efficiency of production method for producing astaxanthin by culturing microalgae is improved. A method for producing astaxanthin in which astaxanthin is produced in inner of algae by culturing a microalga, wherein a light irradiation during a green stage culturing of the microalga is performed by using both a blue LED of peak wavelength from 420 to 500 nm and a red LED of peak wavelength from 620 to 690 nm, and having a ratio of photon flux density of the blue LED to the red LED to be 2:3 to 20:1. It is preferable that the photon flux density of the blue LED is from 5 to 200 ?mol/m2/s, and the photon flux density of the red LED is from 5 to 200 ?mol/m2/s.

Abstract: A microbial oil is extracted from stramenopile transformed with a gene associated with synthesis of fatty acids, the gene encoding a fatty acid desaturase. The stramenopile belongs to the class Labyrinthulomycete. The microbial oil satisfies one or more of the following requirements: (a) an amount of arachidonic acid is 7% or less based on a total amount of the fatty acid composition; (b) an amount of DPA is 9% or less based on the total amount of the fatty acid composition; (c) an amount of ETA is 0.04% or more based on the total amount of the fatty acid composition; (d) an amount of EPA is 7% or more based on the total amount of the fatty acid composition; and (e) an amount of DHA is 45% or more based on the total amount of the fatty acid composition.

Abstract: A microbial oil is extracted from stramenopile transformed with a gene associated with synthesis of fatty acids, the gene encoding a fatty acid desaturase. The stramenopile belongs to the class Labyrinthulomycete. The microbial oil satisfies one or more of the following requirements: (a) an amount of arachidonic acid is 7% or less based on a total amount of the fatty acid composition; (b) an amount of DPA is 9% or less based on the total amount of the fatty acid composition; (c) an amount of ETA is 0.04% or more based on the total amount of the fatty acid composition; (d) an amount of EPA is 7% or more based on the total amount of the fatty acid composition; and (e) an amount of DHA is 45% or more based on the total amount of the fatty acid composition.

Abstract: A method for increasing efficiency of a method for producing astaxanthin by culturing a microalga. A method for producing astaxanthin in which astaxanthin is produced in an algal body by culturing a microalga, wherein photoirradiation is performed using both a blue LED of peak wavelength from 420 to 500 nm and a red LED of peak wavelength from 620 to 690 nm, at least during an astaxanthin-producing culturing phase of a culturing period. The ratio of the blue LED of peak wavelength from 420 to 500 nm and the red LED of peak wavelength from 620 to 690 nm is preferably from 1:19 to 19:1 by photon flux density, and the photon flux densities are each preferably not less than 20 ?mol/m2/s.

Abstract: A method for transforming a stramenopile includes transferring a foreign gene into the stramenopile which is a microorganism belonging to the class Labyrinthula, more specifically, to a genus Labyrinthula, Altornia, Aplanochytrium, Schizochytrium, Aurantiochytrium, Thraustochytrium, Ulkenia, etc. The foreign gene, which is a gene relating to tolerance against an antibiotic, a colorimetric protein and/or a fatty acid desaturase (?5 desaturase gene, ?12 desaturase gene and/or ?3 desaturase gene), is transferred by using the electroporation or gene-gun technique.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transformation method whereby an ability to produce a useful substance of a stramenopile can be improved. The method for transforming a stramenopile comprises transferring a foreign gene into the stramenopile which is a microorganism belonging to the class Labyrinthula, more specifically, to a genus Labyrinthula, Altornia, Aplanochytrium, Schizochytrium, Aurantiochytrium, Thraustochytrium, Ulkenia, etc. Said foreign gene, which is a gene relating to tolerance against an antibiotic, a colorimetric protein and/or a fatty acid desaturase (?5 desaturase gene, ?12 desaturase gene and/or ?3 desaturase gene), is transferred by using the electroporation or gene-gun technique.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide immunoassay microchips in which microstructures of beads having a sufficient reaction area were constructed within microchannels while suppressing flow path resistance, and to provide simple and highly-sensitive immunoassay methods for microsamples. The objective was achieved by immunoassay microchips comprising microchannels with microstructures arranged in at least a portion of the microchannels, the microstructures retaining microbeads uniformly dispersed in photo-cured hydrophilic resins, and the microbeads having a primary antibody immobilized on their surfaces, and by immunoassay methods using the microchips.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transformation method whereby an ability to produce a useful substance of a stramenopile can be improved. The method for transforming a stramenopile comprises transferring a foreign gene into the stramenopile which is a microorganism belonging to the class Labyrinthula, more specifically, to a genus Labyrinthula, Altornia, Aplanochytrium, Schizochytrium, Aurantiochytrium, Thraustochytrium, Ulkenia, etc. Said foreign gene, which is a gene relating to tolerance against an antibiotic, a colorimetric protein and/or a fatty acid desaturase (?5 desaturase gene, ?12 desaturase gene and/or ?3 desaturase gene), is transferred by using the electroporation or gene-gun technique.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide immunoassay microchips in which microstructures of beads having a sufficient reaction area were constructed within microchannels while suppressing flow path resistance, and to provide simple and highly-sensitive immunoassay methods for microsamples. The objective was achieved by immunoassay microchips comprising microchannels with microstructures arranged in at least a portion of the microchannels, the microstructures retaining microbeads uniformly dispersed in photo-cured hydrophilic resins, and the microbeads having a primary antibody immobilized on their surfaces, and by immunoassay methods using the microchips.

Abstract: A microorganism cells-immobilizing granular carrier and its manufacturing system.Said microorganism cells-immobilizing granular carrier, which has a specific gravity of 1.00 to 1.20, and which has a contact angle of 2.degree. to 30.degree. formed between the carrier surface and n-paraffin, and which has a surface suitable for the attachment of a microorganism, is obtained by dripping a liquid composition containing a hydrophilic photo-curable resin having (a) at least two ethylenically-unsaturated bonds in one molecule, (b) photopolymerization initiator, and (c) water-soluble macromolecular polysaccharide capable of gelatinizing through contact with alkaline metal ions or polyvalent metal ions, into an aqueous medium containing alkaline metal ions or polyvalent metal ions to gelatinize the composition; and irradiating the composition with ultraviolet radiation so as to harden said composition.