Enzymatic Production of Ribavirin from Orotidine by Erwinia carotovora AJ 2992

Abstract

Microorganisms that produce ribavirin (1-β-d-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide; virazole^®) directly from orotidine and 1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide (TCA) were screened from our stock cultures. Of the 425 strains, Erwinia carotovora AJ 2992 was found to possess potent ribavirin-producing ability, from orotidine and TCA. In the presence of intact cells of E. carotovora AJ 2992, 183 mm ribavirin was produced from 300 mm orotidine and 300 mm TCA on 48 hr reaction.