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In the conditions of the Donbass region, 38 varieties of grain sorghum of various ecological and geographical origin-breeding companies of Western Europe (“RAGT SEMENCES”, “EURALIS SEMENCES”, “PIONEER”), Ukraine, Russia, the international company “ADVANTA”, the American company “RICHARDSON SEED” were studied. Field research was carried out in the period from 2016 to 2018 in the experimental field of the Lugansk National Agrarian University on ordinary shallow weakly washed blackearth (chernozem) on loess-loam. It was found that the most adapted and productive (6,0 t/ha of grain or more) were early – maturing hybrids – Swift and Queyras; middle early – Solarius, PR88Y20, Bianca, Puma Star; mid-season - Bounty. The most productive (5,0 t/ha and more grain) varieties – Odessky 205, Krupinka 10, Darunok, Zersta 97. The average positive correlation between the duration of the growing season of varieties and crop yield was established. The density of the productive stem in the range from 11 to 25 panicles per 1 m2, the length of the panicle leg and the weight of 1000 grains did not have a significant correlation with the level of sorghum yield. Sorghum yield had an average and increased correlation with panicle weight, grain weight per panicle, number of grains per panicle, grain type, and medium negative relationship with plant height.

The antiviral properties of water extracts from pharmaceutical raw materials of the chaga mushroom, Inonotus obliquus, were studied against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). All studies with infectious materials were carried out in an isolated virological laboratory of the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector of Rospotrebnadzor, which has a sanitary and epidemiological conclusion for the right to work with pathogenic biological agents of I-II pathogenicity groups. Antiviral activity was determined by the ability of I. obliquus water extracts to inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV-2 (nCoV/Victoria /1/2020 strain) in Vero E6 and Vero cell cultures. The results of these studies showed that water extracts of I. obliquus are characterized by low toxicity in Vero and Vero E6 cell cultures and have antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. The 50% inhibitory concentration ranged from 0.75 to 11.6 μg/mL. A patent for the invention was received (Patent RU, 2741714 C 1, 2021).

This review provides results obtained by scientists from different countries on the antiviral activity of medicinal mushrooms against influenza viruses that can cause pandemics. Currently, the search for antiviral compounds is relevant in connection with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Medicinal mushrooms contain biologically active compounds (polysaccharides, proteins, terpenes, melanins, etc.) that exhibit an antiviral effect. The authors present the work carried out at the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector in Russia, whose mission is to protect the population from biological threats. The research center possesses a collection of numerous pathogenic viruses, which allowed screening of water extracts, polysaccharides, and melanins from fruit bodies and fungal cultures. The results of investigations on different subtypes of influenza virus are presented, and special attention is paid to Inonotus obliquus (chaga mushroom). Compounds produced from this mushroom are characterized by the widest range of antiviral activity. Comparative data are presented on the antiviral activity of melanin from natural I. obliquus and submerged biomass of an effective strain isolated in culture against the pandemic strain of influenza virus A/California/07/09 (H1N1 pdm09).

This review presents data on the studied antiviral activities of Agaricomycetes mushrooms against the herpes, West Nile, influenza, human immunodeficiency, and hepatitis viruses, as well as orthopoxviruses, including the variola virus. Polysaccharides and other compounds (e.g., proteins, glycoproteins, terpenoids, melanins, nucleosides) exhibit antiviral activity against many viruses that are pathogenic in humans. Effective strains isolated from wild mushrooms in culture represent promising objects for the development of biotechnological drugs, including ones possessing antiviral activity. The data on antitumor and antiviral activities of compounds from the same mushroom species indicate the correlation of these properties. With regard to this connection, preparations of Basidiomycetes may have prophylactic value in preventing cancers with a viral etiology.

Antiviral activity against type A influenza virus of birds A/chicken/Kurgan/05/2005 (H5N1) and humans A/Aichi/2/68 (H3N2) was investigated for aqueous extracts from mycelium of 11 basidial fungi species collected in the Altai Mountains (Altai Republic, Russia). The most perspective strains for producing antiviral medicines are studied strains Daedaleopsis confragosa, Datronia mollis, Ischnoderma benzoinum, Trametes gibbosa, T. versicolor, Laricifomes officinalis, and Lenzites betulina.

The ability of 30 compounds to protect infection bacteria and baculoviruses from the damaging effect of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation was investigated. For this B. thuringiensis var. israelensis spores and gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) nuclear polyhedrosis virus were mixed with different components and exposed to UV irradiation at 0.25 WI cm2 for 60 min. Then spore viability and viral pathogenicity were studied in third instar gypsy moth larvae. The composition comprising sodium alginate, albumin, and ascorbic acid ensured the most effective protection of the viruses and bacteria. These components were shown to provide protection from exposure to UV irradiation even at a low concentration. Their incorporation into biopesticides will assist in enhancing the efficiency of their use.

Aim: To study antiviral activity of extracts obtained from basidial fungi against influenza viruses of different subtypes., Materials and Methods: Antiviral activity of extracts obtained from basidial fungi against influenza virus A/chicken/Kurgan/05/2005 (H5N1) was determined in in vitro experiments. Changes in infectiousness of pandemic influenza virus A/Moscow/226/2009 (HIN1)v caused by extracts of basidial fungi was studied in experiments in vitro and in vivo., Results: Seventy water extracts of basidial fungi were studied, of which 10 were able to inhibit infectiousness of influenza virus strain A/ chicken/Kurgan/05/2005 (H5N1) in MDCK cell culture. Also, several studied extracts decreased infectiousness of pandemic influenza virus strain A/ Moscow/226/2009 (H1N1)v in MDCK cells and inhibit its reproduction in lungs of infected mice., Conclusion: High antiviral activity of extracts obtained from basidial fungi against influenza viruses opens perspectives for development of drugs with preventive and treatment effects.

The paper considers horizontal transmission routes of baculovirus infection in the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.). The original method for modeling natural processes in controllable conditions allowed one to estimate the influence of factors on the occurrence of epizooties. The authors investigated 3 possible models of virus transmission from infected to uninfected gypsy moths: 1) infected and test caterpillars were kept and fed together (a complex route); 2) those which were in the immediate vicinity, but deprived of eating together (an aerial route); 3) test caterpillars were fed on the leaves on which infected caterpillars had eaten (an oral route). The investigations have shown that the complex and oral routes out of the considered models may be considered to be effective infection transmission routes for the horizontal spread of epizooties. Furthermore, the availability of sufficient amount of infected caterpillars in the population leads to a reduction in the resistance of healthy insects to other diseases. Thus, by taking into account the capacity of larvae for passive migration, the purpose of insecticidal treatment is to set up a few infection foci that will be a source for the spread of epizootias and contribute to an overall viability reduction of a pest population.

Sixty preparations of basidiomycetes (Ganoderma, Lentinus, Pleurotus, Laetiporus, Polyporus, Inonotus, Flammulina, Grifola, Trametes) were investigated with respect to their toxicity for Vero cells and antiviral activity. The antiviral activity was estimated with the use of the West Nile virus and type 2 Herpes simplex. It was shown that 11 preparations of Ganoderma, Lentinus and Pleurotus completely inhibited the infective activity in doses not lower than 1000 TCD50 (the West Nile virus) and 100 PPU (type 2 Herpes simplex). The antiviral activity of the preparations was likely due to the content of polysaccharides or their derivatives in the composition. It increased with increasing of the quantity of the total polysaccharide fraction or its concentration.