[Polysaccharides of xylotrophic basidiomycetes].

Physicochemical properties, composition, and structure of the polysaccharides synthesized by the fungi Lentinus edodes, Ganoderma lucidum, and Crinipellis schevchenkovi in a submerged culture were studied. It has been demonstrated that the exo- and endopolysaccharides of submerged mycelia of the fungi studied are similar to the beta-(1-->3)-D-glucans of the fruiting bodies.

[Polysaccharides of Ganoderma lucidum: factors affecting their production].

The conditions of polysaccharide production by the fungus Ganoderma lucidum were optimized. The maximal yield of endopolysaccharides and exopolysaccharides was observed at 25-30 degrees C, initial pH of culture medium 4.0-6.0, and at a C : N ratio of approximately 18 : 1 and 25 : 1, respectively. The greatest yield of mycelium was reached at a more intensive aeration, and the maximal yield of polysaccharides was observed at a less intensive aeration. The optimal ratio between fungus growth and polysaccharide production was observed at 100 rpm and an aeration of 1.0-1.5 1/1 medium min.

[The carbohydrates of submerged mycelium of xylotrophic basidiomycetes]. / Uglevody glubinnogo mitseliia ksilotrofnykh bazidiomitsetov.

It was demonstrated that the total content of carbohydrates in the submerged mycelium of xylotrophic basidiomycetes falls into the range of 34.66-57.57%. Free carbohydrates of the cell cytosol amounted to 14.52-28.64%; structural carbohydrates, to 20.14-32.70%. Qualitative composition of carbohydrates was studied, which allowed for attributing structural polysaccharides to hetero- and homoglycans with beta- and alpha-glycoside bonds.

[The nature of melanin pigments from some micro- and macromycetes]. / Priroda melaninovykh pigmentov nekotorykh mikro- i makromitsetov.

New inhibitors of melanin formation by micromycetes Aspergillus carbonarius, Alternaria alternata, and Paecilomyces variotii and basidiomycetes Inonotus obliquus and Phellinus robustus were found. Precursors of melanin pigments were isolated and identified. p-Hydroxybenzoic acid was identified among the products of alkaline degradation of melanin formed by micromycetes, whereas in the case of macromycetes this was protocatechuic acid. Therefore, melanins of the former were found to belong to the dihydronaphthalene group, whereas those of the latter belong to catechols.

[Antioxidant activity in fungi degrading lignocellulose substrates]. / Antioksidantnaia aktivnost' gribov--destruktorov lignotselliuloznykh substratov.

Considerable differences in lignin degradation by fungi of two ecological groups have been revealed. Xylotrophs cause a twofold decrease in the molecular weight of lignin. The degrading activity of saprotrophs is insignificant. Xylotrophs demethoxylate and oxidize lignin more rapidly than saprotrophs, showing a higher level of antioxidant activity. As follows from the comparison of the degrading and antioxidative effects, measurement of the antioxidant activity can be used in screening of fungi for the ability to degrade lignocellulose substrates.

[Antioxidant features of fungal melanin pigments]. / Antioksidantnye svoistva melaninovykh pigmentov gribnogo proiskhozhdeniia.

Fungal melanin pigments were shown to display a high antioxidant activity. An increase in the number of methyl substituents in benzidine molecules of melanins obtained from micromycetes and macromycetes was accompanied by a decrease in the efficiency of inhibition of peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation. Melanins were found to have considerable gene-protecting properties. Pigments isolated from macromycetes and applied at a much lower concentration than those obtained from micromycetes prevented damage to bacteriophage-lambda DNA induced by products of peroxidase-catalyzed degradation of aminobiphenyls.

[Melanin complex of the fungus Inonotus obliquus]. / Melaninovyi kompleks griba Inonotus obliquus.

The fungus Inonotus obliquus (Pers.) Pil. synthesised high-molecular-weight phenolic pigments that were assigned to melanins according to their physicochemical properties. It was showed that copper ions (0.008%), pyrocatechol (1.0 mM), and tyrosine (20.0 mM) stimulated the melanogenesis. The production of melanin correlated with the synthesis of o- and p-diphenoloxidases. The fungal melanin had strong antioxidant and genoprotective effects.

[Melanin pigments of the fungi Paecilomyces variotii and Aspergillus carbonarius]. / Melaninovye pigmenty gribov Paecilomyces variotii i Aspergillus carbonarius.

Pigments synthesized by micromycetes Paecilomyces variotii and Aspergillus carbonarius are true melanins. Copper ions and bicyclic phenolic compounds stimulated melaninogenesis, whereas benzotriazole inhibited this process. Precursors of melanin pigments were obtained and identified. p-Hydroxybenzoic acid was shown to be the main product of melanin degradation. Melanins of these fungi are concluded to belong to the dihydronaphthalene group.

[Physiologically active substances from the fungus Coriolus hirsutus (Fr.) Quel]. / Fiziologicheski aktivnye veshchestva griba Coriolus hirsutus (Fr.) Quel.

The fungus Coriolus hirsutus is able to synthesize physiologically active compounds with a high antioxidant activity. The level of the antioxidant activity is mainly determined by phenolic constituents and makes up 90-95% of ionol activity. The experiments carried out in test animals have shown hypolipidemic and hypocholesterolemic effects of the fungus alcohol extract.

[The immunodiagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis by using the indirect immune rosette formation reaction]. / Immunodiagnostika kleshchevogo éntsefalita pri pomoshchi reaktsii nepriamogo immunnogo rozetkoobrazovaniia.

200 patients suspected for tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) were examined by the method of the indirect immune rosette-formation test. In 70.15% of patients with the serologically confirmed diagnosis of TBE immune lymphocytes were detected as early as on day 1 of examination. The level of rosette formation was higher in the meningeal form of the disease. Rosette-forming lymphocytes were also detected in 24.06% of patients with the serologically unconfirmed diagnosis of TBE. The test is proposed for the early diagnosis of TBE.