The ISME Journal
Guide to Authors
To download our complete Guide to Authors, please click here：
https://www.nature.com/documents/ismej-gta.pdf
Article Type Specifications
Article: An Article is a substantial, in-depth, novel research study of interest to the readership of the journal. The structure an Article should follow is detailed below.
Please note - although ISME J emphasizes discovery-based research, we are willing to consider breakthrough method papers that represent major advances for the field of microbial ecology. We recommend our partner journal, ISME Communications, for most methods-oriented manuscripts.
Specifications: Unstructured abstract max. 200 words; Main body of text (excluding abstract, tables/figures, and references) not to exceed 5,000 words; Max 8 tables or figures; Max 100 references
Review Article: Reviews are comprehensive analyses of specific topics that are typically solicited by the Reviews Editor (Andrew Holmes); however we also welcome independent proposals.
Specifications: Unstructured abstract max. 200 words; Main body of text (excluding abstract, tables/figures, and references) not to exceed 3,000 words; Figures and tables are encouraged; Max 100 references
Brief Communication: These are studies that fall short of the criteria for full research papers (e.g., exciting new results with a relatively simple experimental design and without confirmatory follow-up work expected for an Article).
Specifications: Unstructured abstract, one paragraph, max. 200 words; Main body of text (excluding abstract, tables/figures, and references) not to exceed 1,000 words; Max 2 tables or figures; Max 20 references
Comment: Comments discuss issues of particular importance for the field of microbial ecology. Comments may include highlights of significant papers, in the current issue or elsewhere, or comprise poignant opinions, responses to previously published items, or other timely information or comment. Comments may be either solicited by the Reviews Editor or offered as an unsolicited submission. If you wish to offer an unsolicited contribution, we ask you to first contact the Reviews Editor with your request, including a short description of the content and implications of your comment.
Specifications: No abstract required; Main body of text (excluding tables/figures, and references) not to exceed 1,500 words; Max 3 tables or figures; Max 10 references
Perspective: Hybrid between a commentary and a review, providing an opinion-driven perspective on a particular research topic or field of interest to the ISMEJ readership. Authors should present a (provocative) view that can be supported by data and literature with the goal of sparking debate and stimulating future research directions. Perspective articles are by invitation by the Reviews Editor only, but authors wishing to contribute a perspective article are free to submit an unsolicited request to the Reviews Editor with an outline of the intended article. If the subject and content are deemed of interest, an invitation letter will then be extended by the editorial office.
Specifications: No abstract required; Main body of text (excluding tables/figures, and references) not to exceed 3,000 words; Max 3 tables or figures; Max 20 references
Winogradsky Review (by invitation only): Comprehensive analysis of specific topics in microbial ecology that are solicited by the Reviews Editor. Proposals for a Winogradsky Review may be submitted; however, in this case authors should only send an outline of the proposed paper for initial consideration.
Specifications: Unstructured abstract, one paragraph, max. 200 words; Main body of text (excluding abstract, tables/figures, and references) not to exceed 5,000 words; Max 6 tables or figures; Max 100 references
Pre-submission enquiries
Please note that, due to the increasing workload, our Editors-in-Chief cannot personally reply to pre-submission queries. Instead, the Editors-in-Chief would like to share the following statement:
When contemplating submission to The ISME Journal one should consider:
Is the research novel and does it represent a major advance for microbial ecology?
Does the work clearly fit within the scope of our journal?
Has the research been conducted with state-of-the-art approaches?
If the answer to these questions is yes, the study may well be appropriate for The ISME Journal, regardless of the system being studied. In this case, please feel free to submit the full manuscript via the online submission system.
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更多详情：
https://www.nature.com/ismej/authors-and-referees/gta
