Microbial Cell features different types of research, review and commentary articles. For specific publication fees, please refer to the chapter Publication Charges. Please note that some article types have formal restrictions that are outlined in the corresponding article description below and under the Word and Figure Limits section. In any case, we expect the language to be clear and concise, the figures to reflect only results/content essential for the conclusions of the article, and the references to obey a correct and balanced picture of the described literature.

Editorial

Editorials are short opinion pieces that will generally be invited by the senior editorial staff. However, authors might also suggest editorial content. Editorials contain no data but may include 1-2 model figures at the authors’ discretion; word count and number of references are flexible but should range between 1000-2500 words and 5-25 references, respectively. Note that Editorials are not peer-reviewed; our Editorial staff reads and edits the Editorials for scientific accuracy.

Microreview

Microreviews are auto-commentaries on the most significant papers recently published in a different journal. Microbial Cell’s Editorial Board therefore invites authors of such high-impact papers to summarize their findings and comment them in terms of additional interpretations, hypotheses and/or general implications. Microreviews are short (500-1500 words) and neither contain data nor references, even though they sometimes include 1-2 model figures and the original paper is always noted on the first page. Note that Microreviews are not peer-reviewed; our Editorial staff reads and edits the Microreviews for language and scientific accuracy.

Viewpoint

Viewpoints are explicitly personal and provocative opinion pieces by a high-profile scientist. Viewpoints contain no data but may include model figure(s) at the authors’ discretion; there is no limitation on word count, number of references, or number of figures.

In the pit

In the pit is conceived as a platform to present two (or more) different (or opposed) views of a controversial topic. The corresponding commentary articles feature leading scientists adhering to each view. They are generally invited but authors are welcome to suggest a topic. “In the pit”-articles contain no data but may include model figure(s) at the authors’ discretion; there is no limitation on word count, number of references, or number of figures.

Meeting report

A Meeting Report is a short chronicle about a conference relevant for the field. Meeting reports may be invited by the Editorial Board but authors are encouraged to contact the Editorial Office with proposals. In the latter case, authors are asked to approach the meeting organizers to clarify that such a report is indeed permitted – please provide the Editorial Office with a corresponding statement from the organizers upon your proposal. Meeting Reports contain no data but may contain 1-2 model figures; there is no limitation on word count and the number of references is flexible but should range between 5-25.

News and thoughts

The News and Thoughts category presents the findings of a recently published article in Microbial Cell (or a different journal) and discusses its general and specific implications; these articles are generally invited. “News and Thoughts”-pieces contain no data but may include 1-2 model figures at the authors’ discretion; word count and number of references are flexible but should range between 1000-2500 words and 5-25 references, respectively.

Research Article

Research Articles are primary research papers presenting a fundamental advance in one or more fields that meet the scope and content of Microbial Cell. There are no limits in terms of word count, number of figures or references.

Research Report

Research Reports are brief and original research communications that show single relevant findings that meet the scope and content of Microbial Cell. The short-format character of this category is intended for publications with 1-3 figures. There are no limits in terms of word count and number of references.

Reviews

Reviews recapitulate and analyze topics of general interest for the unicellular field, including the critical discussion of new advances and perspectives. Authors are welcome to suggest a topic. There are no limits in terms of word count, number of figures or references.

In a nutshell

“In a nutshell”-articles are short-format pieces (500-2500 words, 0-2 figures) intended for non-specialized readers and written by pioneer scientists that provide a general overview of their specific research field. The article’s content and format (e.g. number of references, structure) can be totally defined by the authors as long as it is kept comprehensive for the general public. For certain issues, the Editorial Board chooses one distinguished scientist to be invited to present her/his field of research to the general public. Accordingly, there is only one “In a nutshell”-article featuring a specific field for an issue in which such an article type appears.

The following table summarizes the key features of each article type, including the applicable fees for publication according to Microbial Cell‘s publication charge policy (in EURO, excluding applicable VAT; fluctuations in foreign exchange rates may alter the payable fee in a different currency). Please note that commentary articles are only subject to the payment of a publication fee if they are not invited. Members of the Editorial Board are entitled to a 15% discount. Under certain circumstances or for submissions eligible for our Microbial Cell DevResearch program, the publication fee may be partially or completely waived. In addition to the articles presented here, corrigenda, errata and retractions are published as corresponding notifications in a subsequent issue of the article in question (see here).

* A fee of 975/1880 Euro (+VAT) is applied only to articles not invited by the Editorial Board.