Article types
Templates for all article types can be found on our Prepare an article page. All our publications have a format-free submission policy for new manuscripts and therefore these templates are not mandatory on initial submission.
Articles published in all journals
Article types described below are published in all Microbiology Society journals and the Access Microbiology open research platform. The word and reference counts in the table are indicative, but not restrictive.
Research Article
The study, results, and interpretations of original research. Re-analysis of published data is considered provided that novel insights are produced. For Access Microbiology, novel insights are not required. For articles reporting new taxa in International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology please follow these guidelines.
3000–7000 words.
Short Communication
An alternative to the Research Article for describing smaller pieces of work. For the five journals, it is suitable for reporting completed work, not preliminary findings. For the Access Microbiology open research platform, authors may use this for reporting preliminary findings, replication studies, null or negative data, and many other research outputs.
1000–3000 words.
Review
Usually commissioned, Reviews provide a subject overview suitable for a wide audience. The text should not give undue emphasis to the authors’ work and should present controversial areas of the topic in a clear and objective way. If you are interested in writing a review, please contact the Reviews Editor or Editor-in-Chief of each journal.
5000–10,000 words, structured as agreed with the Reviews Editor or Editors-in-Chief.
Free to read for 30 days after publication if not published as Open Access.
Perspective
Usually commissioned, Perspectives are short, forward-looking reviews with an emphasis on current challenges and future research directions. They can contain elements of speculation and opinion and may discuss the wider societal impact of microbiology research and policy. If not commissioned Perspectives should be discussed with Editors-in-Chief or relevant board members prior to submission.
3000–5000 words, structured as agreed with the Reviews Editor or Editors-in-Chief.
Free to read for 30 days after publication if not published as Open Access.
Technical Resource
With no rigid format requirements, Technical Resources present new, or advances in, methodologies, software, and other digital resources. This includes newly sequenced genomes of particular significance to the microbiology research community, and bioinformatic databases and tools. They do not necessarily need to contain new scientific advances but can present technical advances that are relevant experimental or computational microbiology.
Letter
A means for readers to respond to recently published articles.
Authors of the original article are contacted to offer the option of responding to the Letter by publishing a Reply.500–1500 words.
Commentary
Often commissioned, Commentaries allow authors to contribute viewpoints on published articles or matters of wider interest to the microbiology research community. If not commissioned. Commentaries should be discussed with Editors-In-Chief or relevant board members prior to submission. These articles do not always undergo full peer review.
500–1500 words.
Free to read for 30 days after publication if not published as Open Access.
Editorial
Communications from the Editors-in-Chief and Editorial Boards of the journals. These articles do not always undergo full peer review.
Structured as agreed with the Editor.
Free to read for 30 days after publication if not published as Open Access.
Show me an example of this article type
Roadmap
Usually commissioned, Roadmaps are authoritative, multi-section reviews addressing key challenges in microbiology research and policy. They consist of multiple short sections written by leading researchers, each addressing the current status, challenges, and future research directions in their respective fields. We welcome proposals for Roadmaps in association with events, projects, or research networks.
Free to read for 30 days after publication if not published as Open Access.
Publication-specific article types
Our journals and the open research platform also publish a range of specialist article types. These are detailed below, along with which journal(s) or open research platform publishes them.
Case Report and Case Series
Published in Access Microbiology.
Case Reports or Case Series describe interesting diagnoses, investigation and treatment of infectious diseases in humans or animals. We recommend authors follow the CARE guidelines and recommended structure when preparing their Case Report or Case Series.
1000–3000 words, approx. 50 references.
Published as Open Access.
ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile
Published in Journal of General Virology.
Commissioned, written by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) study groups, these are concise, review-style articles providing overviews of the classification, structure, and properties of viruses. These articles do not always undergo full peer review.
500–1500 words, approx. 5–10 references.
Published as Open Access.
Clinical Profile
Published in Journal of Medical Microbiology.
Commissioned, these provide concise reviews of pathogens, antimicrobials, or diagnostic techniques.
500–1500 words, approx. 5–10 references.
Free to read for 30 days after publication if not published as Open Access.
Microbe Profile
Published in Microbiology.
Commissioned, these are concise, review-style articles providing overviews of the classification, structure, and properties of microbes.
500–1500 words, approx. 5–10 references.
Outbreak Report
Published in Microbial Genomics.
Descriptions of basic epidemiology with a genomics approach taken; results and an ‘Outcome’ box summarising the take-home points arising from the investigation. Analysis methods must be fully documented, including all parameters and reference sequences used.
3000–7000 words, approx. 20–50 references.
Published as Open Access.
Pedagogy
Published in Access Microbiology.
Describes a method, tool, or practice of microbiology teaching or outreach activity.
1000–3000 words.
Published as Open Access.
Request for an Opinion
Published in International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology.
When strict adherence to the Rules of bacteriological nomenclature would produce chaos, or would not result in nomenclatural stability, exceptions to the Rules may be requested of the Judicial Commission of the ICSP. Requests for an Opinion must be accompanied by a fully documented statement of the relevant facts. When challenging a Request for an Opinion, authors must state the basis of the challenge and support it by a documented statement of the relevant facts. Straightforward differences in taxonomic opinion are not generally considered as Requests for an Opinion.
1000–3000 words.
Show me an example of this article type
Free to read indefinitely if not published as Open Access.