Process for production of amide compounds using agrobacterium radiobacter

A process for production of amide compounds which comprises converting a nitrile compound into a corresponding amide compound by hydrating said nitrile compound in the presence of a cultured broth of bacterial cells, intact bacterial cells, disrupted bacterial cells or enzymes contained therein, or immobilized preparations obtainable by immobilizing intact bacterial cells, disrupted bacterial cells or enzymes contained therein, said bacterial cells being cells of a biologically pure culture of Agrobacterium radiobacter FERM BP-3843, wherein the nitrile compound is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic nitrile compounds, nitrile compounds containing one or more halogen atoms, unsaturated aliphatic nitrile compounds, hydroxynitrile compounds, aminonitrile compounds, aromatic nitrile compounds and dinitrile compounds.