diff --git a/species_data.py b/species_data.py
index b019c3d5d5707784e87736b45263ce72c2d72ce5..b8d40510713e1414d4ef1089353e9b34a5648037 100644
--- a/species_data.py
+++ b/species_data.py
@@ -70,7 +70,11 @@ class SpeciesData:
         self.species = clean_string(parameters_dictionary_description[constants.ORG_PARAM_DESC_SPECIES])
         self.genus = clean_string(parameters_dictionary_description[constants.ORG_PARAM_DESC_GENUS])
         self.strain = clean_string(parameters_dictionary_description[constants.ORG_PARAM_DESC_STRAIN])
+        if self.strain is None:
+            self.strain = ""
         self.sex = clean_string(parameters_dictionary_description[constants.ORG_PARAM_DESC_SEX])
+        if self.sex is None:
+            self.sex = ""
         self.common_name = clean_string(parameters_dictionary_description[constants.ORG_PARAM_DESC_COMMON_NAME])
 
         self.date = datetime.today().strftime("%Y-%m-%d")