Abstract: A method of culturing a microorganism capable of producing at least any one of a highly unsaturated fatty acid or a compound containing a highly unsaturated fatty acid as a constituent fatty acid in a culture medium containing at least a carbon source and a nitrogen source, using an aeration-agitation culture device capable of adjusting and controlling an agitation power and an aeration amount. The method comprises the steps of performing mechanical agitation for a predetermined time after start of culture, where the agitation power per unit liquid amount is 269 (W/m3) or less, and after the predetermined time has passed, adjusting and controlling at least any one of the maximum aeration amount and a maximum power required for agitation to a range which satisfies that KLA (=(P/V)0.95Vs0.67) is 59 or more, an air flow rate parameter Vs0.67 is 0.075 or more, and a required agitation power parameter (P/V)0.

Abstract: A method for producing monovalent unsaturated free fatty acids having 20 and/or 22 carbons or low-grade alcohol esters thereof, said method involving the following: obtaining free fatty acids or low-grade alcohol esters through the hydrolysis or alcoholysis of oils and fats derived from marine products; carrying out distillation on the free fatty acids or low-grade alcohol esters, and reducing the concentration of fatty acids with 18 or less carbons in the low-grade alcohol esters or free fatty acids; and collecting fractions of monovalent unsaturated free fatty acids having 20 and/or 22 carbons or low-grade alcohol esters thereof by column chromatography based on reversed-phase distribution.

Abstract: Alcoholysis of oils and fats containing EPA and DHA is performed by a lipase having substrate specificity for fatty acids having 18 carbons or less and in the presence of a reaction additive such as magnesium oxide; then the glyceride fraction is separated; alcoholysis of the glyceride fraction is performed by a lipase having substrate specificity for fatty acids having 20 carbons or less and in the presence of a reaction additive such as magnesium oxide; and EPA-enriched oil and DHA-enriched oil are simultaneously obtained.

Abstract: A highly unsaturated fatty acid or a highly unsaturated fatty acid ethyl ester that has been produced using as a feedstock oil a fat or oil that contains highly unsaturated fatty acids as constituent fatty acids and which has been reduced in the contents of environmental pollutants, wherein among the dioxins contained, polychlorinated dibenzoparadioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are contained in amounts of less than 0.05 pg-TEQ/g and coplanar PCBs (Co-PCBs) in amounts of less than 0.03 pg-TEQ/g. Also disclosed is a method for producing the highly unsaturated fatty acid or highly unsaturated fatty acid ethyl ester by the steps of removing free fatty acids and environmental pollutants by thin-film distillation from a feedstock oil, ethyl esterifying the resulting fat or oil, and refining the same by rectification and column chromatography.

Abstract: A microbial oil comprising dihomo-?-linolenic acid as a constituent fatty acid of an oil, the microbial oil has a content, in terms of a weight ratio of arachidonic acid relative to dihomo-?-linolenic acid (arachidonic acid/dihomo-?-linolenic acid) of less than 1/13. Preferably, the microbial oil has a triglyceride content of greater than or equal to 70% by weight, and a saturated fatty acid content of less than or equal to 40% by weight. Moreover, a lower alcohol ester of dihomo-?-linolenic acid or a free fatty acid of dihomo-?-linolenic acid obtained from the microbial oil is provided.

Abstract: To provide a transformation method for producing a stramenopile organism having an improved unsaturated fatty acid production capability by disrupting a gene of the stramenopile organism or inhibiting the expression of the gene in a genetically engineering manner. [Solution] A method for transforming a stramenopile organism, which comprises disrupting a gene of the stramenopile organism or inhibiting the expression of the gene in a genetically engineering manner, and which is characterized in that the stramenopile organism is selected from Thraustochytrium aureum, Parietichytrium sarkarianum, Thraustochytrium roseum and Parietichytrium sp. and the gene to be disrupted or of which the expression is to be inhibited is a gene associated with the biosynthesis of a fatty acid.

Abstract: An antiparasitic agent for fish includes an inhibitor of folate synthesis and/or an inhibitor of folate activation as the active substance(s). A combination preparation composed of an inhibitor of folate synthesis and an inhibitor of folate activation is disclosed. Sulfonamide is disclosed as suitable for the inhibitor of folate synthesis. A dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor, a folate antagonist are disclosed as suitable inhibitors of folate activation. The antiparasitic agent is able to exterminate fish parasites via oral administration. It is effective against fish parasites belonging to the ciliate group.

Abstract: A compound derived from the culture product of an actinomycete and having an antitumor activity is provided. Provided is a compound represented by any one of formulas (I), (II) and (III) or an optical isomer thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof which can be isolated from the culture fluid of an actinomycete which belongs to the genus Streptomyces, wherein R1, R2, R5 and R6 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, a hydroxymethyl group, a hydroxyl group, or a double bond by which R1 and R2 or R5 and R6 are bonded; R3, R4, R7 and R8 each independently represent a methyl group or a hydroxymethyl group; and R9 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a processed food which is produced by continuously heating/molding a fluid raw material containing a protein, a lipid, and water. A method for heating a material to be heated continuously by an internal heating system while moving the material in a tube comprising: (a) arranging the tube vertically or substantially vertically (a tilt of not greater than 15°) and heating/molding a mixture while feeding the mixture upward from a bottom in the tube and/or (b) heating/molding the mixture while rotating the tube around a rotation axis, the rotation axis being a center line in a length direction of the tube. The internal heating system is preferably microwave heating, Joule heating, or high-frequency heating.

Abstract: A method of controlling proliferation of fish parasites comprising the administration of 1 to 50 mg/kg fish body weight/day of an inhibitor of folate synthesis and/or an inhibitor of folate activation to fish continuously for 1 to 2 weeks. Using a combination preparation composed of an inhibitor of folate synthesis and an inhibitor of folate activation is preferable, and a sulfonamide is preferable for the inhibitor of folate synthesis. A dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor, a folate antagonist, etc., can be used as the inhibitor of folate activation. The antiparasitic agent is able to exterminate fish parasites via oral administration. It is particularly effective against parasites belonging to the ciliate group among fish parasites.

Abstract: Provided is a taste improver that improves or decreases unpleasant bitterness, astringent taste, harsh taste, bitter taste, or the like that results from potassium salts, magnesium salts, calcium salts, and ammonium salts without adversely affecting savoriness of a food or drink. The taste improver includes a vegetable extract and/or a phospholipid. In the taste improver, the aforementioned vegetable extract includes a vegetable-derived glycoside and/or glycoside aglycone. In the taste improver, the aforementioned phospholipid is phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, and/or a lyso form thereof. Arginine is further added to the aforementioned taste improver. Trehalose and/or hydrogenated starch syrup are further added to the taste improver.

Abstract: [Problem] Provision of a composition for external use on skin that is safe to use and has an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic actions. [Solution] A composition for external use on skin in the treatment of inflammatory disease which comprises dihomo-?-linolenic acid (DGLA) as an active ingredient. The DGLA is preferably contained as a glyceride, a phospholipid, or an alkyl ester. The composition for external use contains DGLA in an amount of 0.1-50 wt %.

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: The present invention provides a process for concentrated PUFA oil, characterized in that alcoholysis reaction using lipase is carried out in the presence of a small amount of water and at least one compound as an additive selected from magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium oxide and calcium hydroxide, and then separation is conducted to obtain a glyceride fraction.

Abstract: The present invention provides new methods of intervention for anxiety associated disorders, in particular, trauma-derived disorders such as PTSD, and therapeutic or prophylactic agents for anxiety associated disorders that can be used as foods, beverages, and dietary supplements, for example, and which contain as an active ingredient n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids contained in krill oil or fish oil, for example. The present invention further provides methods for alleviating fear memory or methods for preventing its formation by adjusting the proportion of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids to n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids as ingested.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an alcoholic injury mitigating agent comprising krill oil as an active ingredient. The krill oil preferably comprises phospholipids in an amount of at least 30% by weight, ?3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in an amount of at least 5% by weight of the total fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid in an amount of at least 2% by weight of the total fatty acids, or docosahexaenoic acid in an amount of at least 1% by weight of the total fatty acids.

Abstract: To provide a transformation method for producing a stramenopile organism having an improved unsaturated fatty acid production capability by disrupting a gene of the stramenopile organism or inhibiting the expression of the gene in a genetically engineering manner. [Solution] A method for transforming a stramenopile organism, which comprises disrupting a gene of the stramenopile organism or inhibiting the expression of the gene in a genetically engineering manner, and which is characterized in that the stramenopile organism is selected from Thraustochytrium aureum, Parietichytrium sarkarianum, Thraustochytrium roseum and Parietichytrium sp. and the gene to be disrupted or of which the expression is to be inhibited is a gene associated with the biosynthesis of a fatty acid.

Abstract: A method for lowering content of a sterol in a highly unsaturated fatty acid-concentrated oil in a method to concentrate a highly unsaturated fatty acid by using a lipase reaction, may include removing the free form of the sterol from a raw material oil that includes a highly unsaturated fatty acid-containing glyceride prior to performing the lipase reaction; and thereafter concentrating the highly unsaturated fatty acid in the glyceride by using a lipase that is less reactive for the highly unsaturated fatty acid.

Abstract: A highly unsaturated fatty acid or a highly unsaturated fatty acid ethyl ester that has been produced using as a feedstock oil a fat or oil that contains highly unsaturated fatty acids as constituent fatty acids and which has been reduced in the contents of environmental pollutants, wherein among the dioxins contained, polychlorinated dibenzoparadioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are contained in amounts of less than 0.05 pg-TEQ/g and coplanar PCBs (Co-PCBs) in amounts of less than 0.03 pg-TEQ/g. Also disclosed is a method for producing the highly unsaturated fatty acid or highly unsaturated fatty acid ethyl ester by the steps of removing free fatty acids and environmental pollutants by thin-film distillation from a feedstock oil, ethyl esterifying the resulting fat or oil, and refining the same by rectification and column chromatography.