Surname: Safronova First name: Vera Patronymic mane: Igorevna Affiliation and official address: Russian Collection of Agricultural Microorganisms (RCAM), the All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, Podbelskogo Sh. 3, Pushkin-8, 196608, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation. Date and place of birth: April 7, 1965, Rjev, Russia Nationality: Russian Education: 1987 - Graduated from the State University of St.-Petersburg (Speciality: Microbiologist). 1994 - Defended Ph.D. degree at the All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (ARRIAM). The thesis title:"All-round description and selection of root nodule bacteria Rhizobium galegae". Career/Employment: 1994 up to now- scientific worker at the ARRIAM, supervisor of the National Collection of Root Nodule Bacteria (St.-Petersburg). Specialization: 1. Main field: Soil microbiology. 2. Other fields: Genetic of plant-bacteria symbiosis, Plant ecology. 3. Current research interest: 3.1. Taxonomy of root nodule bacteria. 3.2. Biodiversity and biosafety of symbiotic bacteria. 3.3. Relict symbiotic systems. 3.4. Rhizobial synergy.