β-Glucans have been studied in animal species, from earthworms to humans. They form a heterogenous group of glucose polymers found in fungi, plants, bacteria, and seaweed. β-Glucans have slowly emerged as an important target for the recognition of pathogens. In the current review, we highlight the major roles of mushroom-derived β-glucans on cancer progression.

Russian and international publications on the antiviral activity of medicinal mushrooms against influenza, which have been studied in cell culture and animal models, on the presence of sialidase (neuraminidase) inhibitors and RNA polymerase inhibitors of influenza virus are considered. The activity against influenza of both aqueous extracts of higher fungi and the polysaccharides, peptidoglycans, proteins, melanin, polyphenols, and terpenoids present in them is described. It is noted that further studies of the antiviral mechanisms of these components of medicinal mushrooms, both those grown in natural conditions and those cultivated with solid-phase or submerged methods in laboratory and factory conditions, are required in order to develop drugs based on them.

We have explored the effect of a new strain of the mushroom Inonotus obliquus (Ach.:Pers.) Pilat (Basidiomycota) F-1375 on melanin production in a glucose–tryptone medium, while adding a preparation of betulin and chemically pure tyrosine, under electric lighting and under dark conditions. The betulin preparation in the examined concentrations had practically no effect on the production of melanin, while high concentrations of tyrosine stimulated the production of melanin, both under illumination and in the dark. All studied samples of mushroom melanin are nontoxic: both isolated from natural (TC₅₀ = 96 ± 8 μg/mL) and cultured in a liquid medium with the addition of betulin and tyrosine (TC₅₀ from 164 to 400 μg/ml) are active against HIV-1 in an MT-4 cell culture (IC₅₀ 1 to 4.3 μg/mL, SI 17 to 192). The selectivity indices of the preparations of melanin of cultivated Inonotus obliquus F-1375 against the human immunodeficiency virus subtype A were at the level of 33-192, which makes it possible to recommend them for the development of antiviral agents. Melanin from the mushroom Inonotus obliquus F-1375 cultured in electric light with the addition of 10 and 20 mM tyrosine had the highest selectivity index for the HIV-1 retrovirus (SI 192).

Oil-pipe line exploiting is connected inevitably with an influence upon natural biotopes. The route of our investigation of technogenic biotopes passed along 30 km of oil-pipeline protection zone. There were found 11 vascular plant species from 173 of Yaroslavl Region Red Book: Carex sylvatica Huds., Dactylorhiza baltica (Klinge) Orlova, Dactylorhiza fuchsii (Druce) Soo, D. incarnata (L.) Soo, D. maculata (L.) Soo, Glyceria lithuanica (Gorski) Gorski, Listera ovata (L.) R. Br., Neottia nidus-avis (L.) Rich., Ophioglossum vulgatum L., Veratrum lobelianum Bernh., Platanthera bifolia (L.) Rich, in addition Dactylorhiza baltica also is the species of Russian Federation Red Book. The important information including status of Red Book plant species, category of protection, biotopes and living state is given in the article together with the indispensable protective measures fot its preservation and the necessity of periodical plant monitoring. Some Red Book plant populations are scanty or even found in a single number. The most of them are corresponding with satisfactory living states. Species of Dactylorhiza are more prevailing in pipeline protection zone than other Red Book plants. This phenomenon is connected with auspicious conditions of lighting and moistening in meadow and marsh-meadow biotopes that are formed after felling trees and shrubs. Within protection zone with Red Book plants felling is expedient in autumnal period after ripening and seeds fall. During reconstruction of oil-pipeline transplantation of Red Book plants is higly recommended to the nearest appropriate biotope not included in the area of reconstructive work, but optimally to the protected areas.

Introduction. The mouse-specific orthopoxvirus, ectromelia virus, is one of the best models that can be used to study key issues of pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of smallpox, and to develop measures to increase virulence, transmissibility, or the ability to overcome vaccine immunity. The aim of the work is to screen the antiviral activity of samples from Inonotus obliquus chaga and humic acid from brown coal in vitro against ectromelia virus. Materials and methods. We used ectromelia virus, strain K-1 (reg. No V-142), obtained from the State Collection of Pathogens of Viral Infections and Rickettsioses of the State Scientific Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector; Vero Е6 cell culture (No 70) from the Collection of cell cultures of the State Scientific Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector. Nine samples from chaga I. obliquus and humic acid from brown coal were used to evaluate the changes in the infectivity of the ectromelia virus on cell culture using 2 schemes of application of drugs and virus (preventive and therapeutic schemes), and to assess their cytotoxicity and antiviral activity. Results. 50% cytotoxic concentration, 50% virus-inhibiting concentrations and selectivity index were determined for all samples. The studied samples were shown to be non-toxic to the monolayer of Vero cell culture in a dilution of 300 and more micrograms/ml, while demonstrated high antiviral activity against strain K-1 of ectromelia virus in two application schemes preventive and curative. Conclusion. All samples tested for ectromelia virus in vitro can be considered promising for further development of drugs against diseases caused by orthopoxviruses.

The structure and composition of the forming vegetation at the developed oil field in Western Siberia is considered. The absence of pathologies in plants in reclaimed and self-growing developed areas and the growth of Dactylorhiza maculata (a specially protected plant from the Khanty-Mansi AO Red Book) in the post-technogenic territory testify to the restoration of biodiversity and environmental safety of the emerging post-technogenic communities. Dactylorhiza baltica populations from the Red Book of the Russian Federation have been identified on the Russian Plain in the Leningrad and Yaroslavl Regions in the protected area of oil pipelines. In addition, in the Yaroslavl region, populations of Neottia nidus-avis, Platanthera bifolia, Glyceria lithuanica, Carex sylvatica, Dactylorhiza incarnata, Dactylorhiza maculata, Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Listera ovata, Ophioglossum vulgatum, Veratrum lobelianum, were found. These species are especially protected in the Yaroslavl region. The characteristics of their populations are given: the number of locations, the number of specimens, biotopes. The areas of various grassy biotopes in forest regions are increased through the length of treeless and protected spaces above oil pipelines. Thus these treeless spaces contribute to the conservation of rare and endangered edge-meadow, meadow and bog-meadow plants. Measures for the conservation and restoration of populations of specially protected species are recommended. A suggestion is made about the necessity to expand the assortment of sown plant species when carrying out reclamation work on post-technogenic lands using indigenous species for sowing seeds.