Large Scale Simulation Of Cyanovirin Production From Conventional And Biotechnological Techniques

Abstract

This paper's primary purpose is to determine the best cyanovirin-N n large-scale technique for production
based on its pre-feasibility reached using the traditional method (applying recombinant soybean) and the
biotechnological method (employing Nostoc ellipsosporum cultures in bioreactors). Cyanovirin-N is a lectin capable
of inhibiting HIV type 1 and 2 infections. Hence the importance of optimizing production and improving costeffectiveness for its use as immediate treatment in HIV patients is crucial for further researches. In various studies,
it is confirmed that the problem lies in the low production of cyanovirin at the level of Nostoc ellipsosporum.
However, this method is essential to find a solution since the operating conditions can be controlled and not
dependent on environmental factors as in traditional processes. The results obtained using SuperPro Designer®
software indicate that the soybean produces a greater quantity of crystallized cyanovirin-N (744.48kg/h), but it is
not profitable due to the annual operating cost (USD) $ 458,892,000. The latter is due to its comparison to the results
using Nostoc ellipsosporum. This latter reveals lower cyanovirin-N crystals (0.36kg/h). However, the annual
operating cost significantly decreases to (USD) $ 24,236,000, almost 85% less than the cost compared to the
traditional method. It should be noted that the culture medium used for Nostoc ellipsosporum offers better
conditions for protein synthesis and opens the way to future studies that standardize profitable methods in the
production of this lectin.