Address: Kronvalda bulv. 4, Rīga, LV - 1586
Phone: +371 67034866
Head: Prof. Indrikis Muiznieks
Email: indrikis.muiznieks@lu.lv

The main research directions:

• Molecular Microbiology – regulation of plasmid gene expression and exploitation of DNA and DNA-protein complexes in building of new materials for nanotechnology;
• Environmental and Food Microbiology – characterization of microbial communities and their potential for biocorrosion and bioremediation
• Mushroom Biotechnology – breeding and characterization of gourmet and medicinal mushroom strains, which are prospective for cultivation in Latvia
• Plant Biotechnology – characterization of genetic diversity of wild and cultivated plants, genetic basis of disease resistance in barley cultivars;
• Cell Biotechnology – human somatic stem cell isolation, propagation and priming of their differentiation.

Research infrastructure of the Chair of Microbiology and Biotechnology is built up on the basis of the laboratories of Bioanalytical Methods, Plant and Microorganism Genetics, International Depository - Microbial Strain Collection of Latvia. The research projects in Latvia are conducted in close cooperation with the Faculties of Medicine and Chemistry, Institutes of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Chemical Physics, Solid State Physics at the University of Latvia as well as with the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre and private companies. International cooperation covers a number of universities and university hospitals in Germany, United Kingdom, the Netherlands and USA.