Abstract
We evaluated by comparing the performance of three pneumatically-driven bioreactors in the production of L-asparaginase (L-ASNase), an enzyme used to treat leukaemia and lymphoma. A two-step screening process was conducted to detect Cunninghamella spp. strains producing L-ASNase. Cunninghamella echinulata DSM1905 produced the highest levels of L-ASNase during screening assays. Subsequently, fermentations were performed in bubble column (BCR), airlift (ALR), and hybrid fixed-bed airlift (FB-ALR) bioreactors to determine the best upstream bioprocess. Mycelial biomass production was higher in BCR than in ALR and FB-ALR (p ≤ 0.0322). The activity of L-ASNase produced in FB-ALR, in which the fungus grew as a consistent biofilm, was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.022) than that from ALR, which was higher than that of BCR (p = 0.036). The specific activity of ALR and FB-ALR presented no differences (p = 0.073), but it was higher than that of BCR (p ≤ 0.032). In conclusion, C. echinulata DSM1905, grown under the biofilm phenotype, produced the highest levels of L-ASNase, and FB-ALR was the best upstream system for enzyme production.