About Us

The Microbial Strain Collection of Latvia (MSCL), is a structural unit of University of Latvia, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology. MSCL is the largest microbiological resource repository in Latvia, its activities are focused on preserving biological diversity ex situ and developing microbiology and biotechnology fields that are traditionally characteristic and promising for Latvia. The collection holds more than 1,700 different cultures of bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi, from which the majority were isolated in Latvia and are the only samples of their kind. Microorganisms are stored in a metabolically inactive state—in liquid nitrogen.

Microorganisms from the collection are used for research and educational purposes at the University of Latvia and other academic institutions, as well as for commercial orders. MSCL is also involved in the educational process at the University of Latvia, with several students annually working on their bachelor's and master's theses based on the MSCL collection.

MSCL, as an international depository authority under the Budapest Treaty, accepts bacteria, fungi (including yeasts), and plasmids in host cells, except for pathogenic microorganisms belonging to biological agent groups 3 and 4 for patenting.


Services

Issuance of microorganism cultures:
EUR 28.46 + VAT per culture;

Deposition

  • For public access – free of charge;

  • For patenting - EUR 426.86 + VAT per culture;

  • Confidential storage of microorganisms, where the depositor retains all ownership rights (safe-deposit);
    EUR 35.57 + VAT per culture per year;
     

Isolation, purification, and characterization of pure microorganism cultures;
Consultations for clients.

 


Scientific personel

Asoc. Prof. Vizma Nikolajeva

vizma.nikolajeva@lu.lv


Bs.Sc Samanta Berena

Ms.Sc. Māris Seņkovs

maris.senkovs@lu.lv


Ms. sc. Dāvis Dūcis

davis.ducis@lu.lv



Publications

Borska E., Kviesis J., Ramata-Stunda A., Nikolajeva V., Ansone-Bērtiņa L., Borodušķis M., Kļaviņš M. Bioactive lipids and allelopathic potential of the invasive plant Heracleum sosnowskyi: insights into its fatty acid composition, antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects. Frontiers in Pharmacology Vol. 16 (2025), p.1-15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2025.1582694

Necajeva J., Boroduske A., Nikolajeva V., Senkovs M., Fiļipovics M., Jakobija I., Kalnina I., Roga A., Skinderskis E., Gudra D., Fridmanis D. Characterisation and dynamics of the fungal communities of Avena fatua and Echinochloa crus-galli seeds in soil seed bank.  https://doi.org/10.1111/wre.12651

Janceva S., Andersone A., Zaharova N., Nikolajeva V., Svarta A. SOIL AMENDMENTS BASED ON FOREST LOGGING RESIDUES ON DILL (ANETHUM GRAVEOLENS L.) PRODUCTIVITY AND COMPOSITION. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17770/etr2024vol1.7983

Janceva S., Andersone A., Lauberte L., Zaharova N., Nikolajeva V. FRUIT SHRUBS’ TWIGS AS A SOURCE OF VALUABLE OLIGOMERIC POLYPHENOLIC COMPOUNDS WITH ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIFUNGAL POTENTIAL. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17770/etr2024vol1.7982

Andersone A., Janceva S., Zaharova N., Nikolajeva V., Jurkjane V.  ARONIA MELANOCARPA (BLACK CHOKEBERRY) BRANCHES BIOMASS AS A SOURCE OF VALUABLE BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE COMPOUNDS WITH ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17770/etr2024vol1.7981

Zommere A., Klavins L., Nikolajeva V., Kukela A., Kaipanen K., Korpinen R., Klavins M. Extraction and investigation of the lipophilic fraction from Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) forestry side-stream biomass. Wood Sci Technol 58, 1259–1284 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-024-01566-x

Bolmanis E., Grigs O., Elīna Didrihsone, Senkovs M., Nikolajeva V. Pilot-scale production of Bacillus subtilis MSCL 897 spore biomass and antifungal secondary metabolites in a low-cost medium. Biotechnol Lett 46, 355–371 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-024-03481-4

Kurpnieks O., Senkovs M., Rimkus A. CHALLENGES OF SSF PROCESS FOR PEA AND WHEAT BRAN VALORIZATION USING TRICHODERMA SPP. FOR BIOCONTROL AGENT PRODUCTION. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17770/etr2023vol1.7306

Pastare L., Žogota M., Kienkas L., Boroduskis M., Ramata-Stunda A., Reihmane D., Senkovs M., Skudrins G., Nakurte I. Exploring the Potential of Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Matricaria chamomilla White Ray Florets as a Source of Bioactive (Cosmetic) Ingredients. Antioxidants 2023, 12(5), 1092; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12051092

Rimkus A., Namina A., Dzierkale M.T., Grigs O., Senkovs M., Larsson S. Impact of Growth Conditions on the Viability of Trichoderma asperellum during Storage. Microorganisms 2023, 11(4), 1084; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11041084

Andersone A., Janceva S., Petersone L., Krasilnikova J, Zaharova N., Nikolajeva V., Rieksts G., Telysheva G. Lignocellulosic Waste Compounds for Pancreatic Lipase Inhibition: Preliminary Extraction by Freon, Obtaining of Proanthocyanidins and Testing on Lipase Activity. Metabolites 2023, 13(8), 922; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13080922

Andersone A., Janceva S., Petersone L., Skadiņš I., Nikolajeva V., Logviss K., Zaharova N., Rieksts G., Telysheva G. A comparative analysis of the proanthocyanidins from fruit and non-fruit trees and shrubs of Northern Europe: Chemical characteristics and biological activity. Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy, Volume 36, December 2023, 101266; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scp.2023.101266

Aunina K., Ramata-Stunda A., Kovrlija I., Tračuma E., Merijs-Meri R., Nikolajeva V., Loca D. Exploring the Interplay of Antimicrobial Properties and Cellular Response in Physically Crosslinked Hyaluronic Acid/ε-Polylysine Hydrogels. Polymers 2023, 15(8), 1915; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15081915

Borodušķe A., Ķibilds J., Fridmanis D, Gudra D., Ustinova M., Senkovs M., Nikolajeva V. Does peptide-nucleic acid (PNA) clamping of host plant DNA benefit ITS1 amplicon-based characterization of the fungal endophyte community?Fungal Ecology, Volume 61, February 2023, 101181 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funeco.2022.101181

Nakurte I., Žogota M., Pastare L., Kienkas L., Senkovs M., Boroduskis M., Ramata-Stunda A. Valorization of Bioactive Compounds from By-Products of Matricaria recutita White Ray Florets. Plants January 2023 12(2):396 DOI: 10.3390/plants12020396

Šleinus D., Sinka M., Korjakins A., Obuka V., Nikolajeva V., Brencis R., Savicka E. Properties of Sound Absorption Composite Materials Developed Using Flax Fiber, Sphagnum Moss, Vermiculite, and Sapropel. Materials 2023, 16(3), 1060; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16031060

Andersone A., Janceva S., Petersone L., Ramata-Stunda A., Nikolajeva V., Zaharova N., Rieksts G., Telysheva G. Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Bacterial, and Anti-Fungal Activity of Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins and Extracts Obtained from Lignocellulosic Agricultural Waste. Molecules 2023, 28(2), 863; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28020863

Ņečajeva J., Borodušķe A., Nikolajeva V., Senkovs M. Epiphytic and Endophytic Fungi Colonizing Seeds of Two Poaceae Weed Species and Fusarium spp. Seed Degradation Potential In Vi tro. Microorganisms 2023, 11(1), 184; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11010184

Ramkumar N., Plantus K., Ozola M., Mishnev A., Nikolajeva V., Senkovs M., Ošeka M, Veliks J. Photoredox-Catalyzed Direct C-H Monofluoromethylation of Heteroarenes. Diversity 2023, 15(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010008


Projects

MSCL is working together with Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, who are the main partners, on a Latvian Council of Science project titled “Innovative anti-inflammatory and anti-pathogenic systems based on proanthocyanidins isolated from lignocellulosic waste from fruit bush agriculture”.

With Latvian Biomedical research and study centre on a Latvian Council of Science project titled “Genomics and transcriptomics guided trait stacking of antagonistic mechanisms utilized by Streptomyces spp. from underexplored strain collection in syncoms against pathogens causing ash dieback and acute oak decline”
 

 

MSCL is  involved in the EU Horizon-INFRA-2024-TECH-01 project "MALDIBANK: Multi-domain Open MALDI Spectra Archive for Identification of Microorganisms" together with other MIRRI-ERIC partners.

Contacts

Microbial Strain Collection of Latvia

University of Latvia, Faculty of Medicine and Life sciences

Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology

Jelgavas str., 1 Riga, LV-1004, Latvia

Telephone: +371-67033925

E-mail: collect@edu.lu.lv