BMC Microbiology

BMC Microbiology is an open access, peer-reviewed journal that considers articles on all aspects of microbiology, covering bacteria, archaea, algae and fungi, viruses, unicellular parasites and helminths. The journal considers studies on all aspects of the biology and biochemistry of microorganisms including but not limited to cell biology, genomics, signaling, the interaction of the microbes with the environment and host, mechanistic and functional insights into infection and disease, and biotechnological applications in science and industry.

The journal welcomes manuscripts in the following broad sub-topics of microbiology:

• Applied microbiology and microbial biotechnology including studies relating to the application of microbiology, including environmental applications, soil degradation and bioremediation, food safety and degradation, and probiotics. It also includes studies on bacteria and yeasts: genetic manipulation, bioproduction, fermentation, metabolic engineering and downstream processing, bioremediation and biodegradation, biocatalysis and biofilms, and also environmental applications among other uses and applications.
• Clinical microbiology and vaccines including studies on all aspects of clinical microbiology, including virology, epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, vaccines and immune responses, from a pathogen angle rather than a reaction from the host. This section also considers AMR epidemiological studies.
• Ecological and evolutionary microbiology including studies on all aspects of ecological and evolutionary microbiology, including microbial ecology, ecosystems, biodiversity, evolution, population genetics, phylogenetics, microbial communities and biofilms, marine and freshwater microbiology.
• Microbe-host interactions and microbial pathogenicity including studies on microbe-host interactions and pathogenicity, including pathogenic mechanisms, virulence factors, host invasion, immune evasion and the effect on the pathogen, effect of immunity on the pathogen, and symbiotic interactions.
• Microbial biochemistry, physiology and metabolism including studies on microbial biochemistry, physiology and metabolism, including enzymology, metabolic pathways and regulation, growth, development and stress responses. It also includes microbial cell biology.
• Microbial biotechnology including aspects of manipulation of microbes for their use in research, clinic and industry.
• Microbial genetics, genomics and proteomics including studies on all aspects of microbial genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and systems biology.
• Microbiome with studies on all aspects of human and animal gut, tissue and environmental microbiome. The journal also considers clinical microbiome or FMT studies including trials.
• Signaling and cellular microbiology including studies on all aspects of signaling and cellular microbiology, including cell growth and division, cell cycle, membrane biosynthesis and transport, subcellular organization and ultrastructure, signaling pathways, cell to cell communication, quorum signaling and chemotaxis.

As a BMC Series journal, BMC Microbiology does not make editorial decisions based on the perceived interest or potential impact of a study. Manuscripts are considered for publication if they are scientifically valid. For research articles, this includes having a clearly defined and sound research question, appropriate methodology and analysis, and adherence to community-agreed standards relevant to the field.