The ability of bacterial cultures to transform nucleosides to virazole, a riboside with antiviral activity, was studied. Qualitative and quantitative methods for estimation of the microbial activity in the biotransformation reaction were designed. A qualitative rapid method for analysis of a large number of cultures was developed. Thirty nine collection strains were tested for their capacity to bioconvert nucleosides to virazole. Intact cells grown in a liquid medium were used as a source of purine nucleoside phosphorylase. Purine nucleosides such as adenosine, inosine, guanosine and 30-percent ribose solution resulting from the riboxin hydrolysis were tested as the ribose donors. The best results were obtained with the ribose solution. No distinct correlation between the genus of the microorganisms and their capacity for bioconversion of certain substrates was observed. Several cultures which showed stable and high results with respect to all the tested substrates were detected.
Adenosine Antiviral Agents