diff --git a/speciesData.py b/speciesData.py
index e6862d62e4eebdace8a89b2598b2e18b710dc406..00893cbfc0588c016d41ffed13255c22af1af6ea 100755
--- a/speciesData.py
+++ b/speciesData.py
@@ -25,11 +25,11 @@ class SpeciesData:
     def __init__(self, parameters_dictionary):
         # self.config_dictionary = None
         self.parameters_dictionary = parameters_dictionary
-        self.species = self.clean_string(parameters_dictionary["description"]["species"])
-        self.genus = self.clean_string(parameters_dictionary["description"]["genus"])
-        self.strain = self.clean_string(parameters_dictionary["description"]["strain"])
-        self.sex = self.clean_string(parameters_dictionary["description"]["sex"])
-        self.common = self.clean_string(parameters_dictionary["description"]["common_name"])
+        self.species = self.clean_string(str(parameters_dictionary["description"]["species"]))
+        self.genus = self.clean_string(str(parameters_dictionary["description"]["genus"]))
+        self.strain = self.clean_string(str(parameters_dictionary["description"]["strain"]))
+        self.sex = self.clean_string(str(parameters_dictionary["description"]["sex"]))
+        self.common = self.clean_string(str(parameters_dictionary["description"]["common_name"]))
 
         self.date = datetime.today().strftime("%Y-%m-%d")
         self.origin = parameters_dictionary["description"]["origin"]