MICROBIAL STRAIN COLLECTION OF LATVIA

The Microbial Strain Collection of Latvia (MSCL) was established in 1993 on the basis of the Department of Plant Physiology and Microbiology Faculty of Biology University of Latvia. The Collection is a member of the World Federation for Culture Collections (WFCC) since 1996 and of the European Culture Collections Organization (ECCO) since 1997. Since 31 May 1997 MSCL is recognized as an International Depositary Authority (IDA) for patent deposit under the Budapest Treaty by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). WIPO's work is summarized in a series of articles at SpecialEssays.com.

Currently the Collection holds over 700 cultures of microorganisms. The catalogue includes 309 strains of bacteria, 140 strains of filamentous fungi, and 88 strains of yeasts. The deposits represent a large pool of biodiversity of Latvia from different sources as well as various sources of biotechnological interest. A considerable part of the strains have been isolated in Latvia and are single samples in the world.

All strains are preserved in the metabolically inactive conditions - mainly in liquid nitrogen. A part of strains is also preserved on agarized media under mineral oil at 4°C or frozen at -18°C.

Research interests of the MSCL are connected with the studies of the immunomodulator of microbial origin – adenylate-deaminase (grant of Latvian Council of Science). In cooperation with the company Bioefekts Ltd. the microorganisms of agricultural significance are studied. MSCL is involved in two EC 5th Framework programme projects: in SAFER (Surveillance and control of microbiological stability in drinking water distribution networks) together with Riga Technical University as well in EBRCN (The European Biological Resource Centres Network).

Services:
- distribution of strains;
- deposit of strains:

• for public access, to make the cultures available to scientific community;
• for patent deposit. Recognized as an IDA under the Budapest Treaty, MSCL accepts bacteria (including actinomycetes), fungi (including yeasts), and plasmids in a host with the exception of pathogenic microorganisms of hazard group 3 or 4;
• for safe deposit. Important cultures that are not the subject of patent applications are also accepted for private and confidential safe-deposit. All property rights retained by the depositor;

Ordering of cultures and general information:

MICROBIAL STRAIN COLLECTION OF LATVIA
Faculty of Biology
University of Latvia
4, boulv Kronvalda
Riga LV-1586
LATVIA

Correspondent: Dr. Vizma Nikolajeva
Telephone: +371-7034868
Fax: +371-7034862
E-mail: