_Applied_  
_sciences_  
_Isolation, Identification and Biotechnological Applications of a Novel, Robust, Free-living_  
_Chlorococcus (Oophila) amblystomatis_ Strain  
_Isolated from a Local Pond_  
**[PERSON] 1,2**, [PERSON] 3**, [PERSON] 1, [PERSON] 3, [PERSON] 1,**  
**[PERSON] 3,4, [PERSON] 3, [PERSON] 1**, [PERSON] 3,*, [PERSON] 2** and [PERSON] 1  
Allmicroalgae Natural Products S.A., Research and Development Department--Rua 25 de Abril, n\({}^{\circ}\) 19, 2445-413 Pataias, Portugal; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (N.C.); [PERSON]SS] (J.T.S.); [PERSON]SS] (M.S.); [PERSON]S] (M.C.); [PERSON]S] (J.S.)  
MARE--Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal; [EMAIL_ADDRESS]  
CCMAR--Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (H.P.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (T.S.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (C.B.S.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (L.M.S.)  
Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHMT), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical,  
Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal  
Correspondence: [EMAIL_ADDRESS]; Tel.: +351-289-800-900; Fax: +351-289-800-069  
Received: 23 March 2020; Accepted: 23 April 2020; Published: 27 April 2020  
**Abstract:** Bioprospection of novel autochthonous strains is key to the successful industrial-scale production of microalgal biomass. A novel _Chlorococcus_ strain was recently isolated from a pond inside the industrial production facility of Allmicroalgae (Leira, Portugal). Phylogenetic analysis based on 18S ribosomal ribonucleleic acid (rRNA) gene sequences suggests that this isolate is a novel, free-living _Oophila amblystomatis_ strain. However, as our phylogenetic data strongly suggests that the aforementioned taxon belongs to the genus _Chlorococcus_, it is here proposed to rename this species as _Chlorococcus amblystomatis_. In order to characterize the biotechnological potential of this novel isolate, growth performance and biochemical composition were evaluated from the pilot (2.5-m\({}^{3}\)) to industrial (10-m\({}^{3}\)) scale. The highest maximum areal productivity (36.56 g\(\cdot\)m\({}^{-2}\)-day\({}^{-1}\)) was reached in a 10-m\({}^{3}\) tubular photobioreactor (PBR), as compared to that obtained in a 2.5-m\({}^{3}\) PBR (26.75 g\(\cdot\)m\({}^{-2}\)-day\({}^{-1}\)). _Chlorococcus amblystomatis_ displayed high protein content (48%-56% dry weight (DW)) and moderate levels of total lipids (18%-31% DW), carbohydrates (6%-18% DW) and ashes (9%-16% DW). Furthermore, the lipid profile was dominated by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The highest pigment contents were obtained in the 2.5-m\({}^{3}\) PBR, where total chlorophylls accounted for 40.24 mg\(\cdot\)g\({}^{-1}\) DW, followed by lutein with 5.37 mg\(\cdot\)g\({}^{-1}\) DW. Overall, this free-living _Chlorococcus amblystomatis_ strain shows great potential for nutritional applications, coupling a promising growth performance with a high protein content as well as relevant amounts of PUFAs, chlorophyll, and carotenoids.  
**Keywords:** bioprospection; microalgae; _Chlorococcus (Oophila) amblystomatis; photobioreactors; industrial-scale production; biotechnological applications