Journal Guide
Publishing in Frontiers in Microbiology: Fit, Timeline & Submission Guide
Microorganisms advancing health, industry, and environmental science
Should you submit here?
Submit if present microorganism or finding advancing understanding. Be careful if characterizing microorganism genetics or metabolism alone insufficient.
Best fit if
Present microorganism or finding advancing understanding
Not ideal if
Characterizing microorganism genetics or metabolism alone insufficient
Also compare
4.5
Impact Factor (2024)
~40-50%
Acceptance Rate
~90-120 days median
Time to First Decision
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What Front. Microbiol. Publishes
Frontiers in Microbiology published by Frontiers is an open-access journal covering all aspects of microbiology. With JIF 4.5 and broad Q2 coverage, FiM emphasizes microbial diversity, function, and applications. The journal publishes research on bacteria, archaea, viruses, fungi, and parasites with relevance to health, industry, or environment. Critically: FiM values research with clear biological or applied relevance. Pure microbial characterization without functional insight is less competitive. The journal seeks papers showing how microorganisms affect health or enable applications.
- Bacterial physiology and genetics: growth, metabolism, gene expression
- Microbial pathogenesis: virulence, host-pathogen interaction, infection
- Antibiotic resistance: mechanisms, epidemiology, solutions
- Environmental microbiology: biogeochemical cycling, ecosystem function
- Industrial microbiology: fermentation, biomanufacturing, biotechnology
- Probiotics and microbiota: gut health, microbiota composition and function
- Virology: viral structure, replication, immune evasion, vaccination
- Fungal biology: pathogenesis, antifungal resistance, biotechnology
Editor Insight
“Frontiers in Microbiology publishes microbiology advancing health and applications. We seek novel microorganisms or mechanisms with clear biological significance. The best papers combine molecular characterization with functional validation and practical relevance.”
What Front. Microbiol. Editors Look For
Novel microorganism or mechanism with clear biological or applied significance
Present microorganism or finding advancing understanding. New pathogen mechanism? Novel probiotic with health benefit? Antibiotic resistance solution? Show clear relevance to health or applications.
Complete microorganism characterization combining molecular and functional methods
Integrate genomic/genetic analysis with phenotypic characterization and functional validation. Molecular data plus functional experiments more impactful than either alone.
Mechanistic understanding of microorganism-host or microorganism-environment interaction
Explain how microorganism affects host or environment. What mechanisms drive pathogenesis, probiotic benefit, or environmental function? Mechanism stronger than observation alone.
In vivo or environmental validation, not just in vitro culture
Test microorganisms in relevant contexts: animal models for pathogens/probiotics, environmental samples for ecosystem microbes. Real context proves practical significance.
Application potential or translational pathway clearly articulated
Connect microbiology findings to practical applications: new antibiotics, probiotic therapies, environmental remediation, industrial production. Application focus increases impact.
Why Papers Get Rejected
These patterns appear repeatedly in manuscripts that don't make it past Front. Microbiol.'s editorial review:
Microorganism characterization without functional significance or application
Characterizing microorganism genetics or metabolism alone insufficient. FiM expects biological or applied relevance. How does microorganism matter for health, environment, or industry?
In vitro culture experiments without in vivo or environmental validation
Lab culture results often don't translate to real contexts. In vivo or environmental validation proves practical relevance. Real-world testing essential.
Genome sequencing without functional analysis or phenotypic characterization
Genomic data requires functional interpretation. Show how genes affect phenotype and function. Genomics plus phenotypics more valuable than either alone.
Pathogenesis or probiotic claims without rigorous mechanistic evidence
Mechanistic claims require experimental support. Show molecular mechanisms with genetic or biochemical evidence. Proposed mechanisms must be tested.
Antibiotic resistance documentation without understanding mechanisms or solutions
Resistance discovery is common. Mechanistic understanding or novel therapeutic approach required for competitive papers. Pure documentation has limited impact.
Does your manuscript avoid these patterns?
The Free Readiness Scan reads your full manuscript against Front. Microbiol.'s criteria and flags the specific issues most likely to cause rejection.
Insider Tips from Front. Microbiol. Authors
Antibiotic resistance and novel antimicrobial strategies highly competitive
Research on resistance mechanisms, resistance solutions, or novel antimicrobial approaches addresses urgent clinical need.
Gut microbiota and health increasingly prominent
Research on microbiota composition/function affecting health (obesity, metabolism, immunity, mental health) increasingly competitive.
Quorum sensing and bacterial communication valued
Understanding bacterial communication and biofilm formation mechanisms has applications for both infection and biotechnology.
CRISPR and genetic engineering in microorganisms trending
Papers using CRISPR or other genetic tools for functional studies or strain improvement increasingly competitive.
Environmental and climate-related microbiology gaining attention
Microbial roles in nutrient cycling, carbon cycling, or environmental remediation increasingly valued.
The Front. Microbiol. Submission Process
Manuscript preparation
Prep5,000-8,000 words with 5-7 figures. Include microorganism source/isolation, characterization (genetic, phenotypic, functional), mechanism studies, in vivo/environmental validation, and application discussion. Supporting: additional characterization data, methods detail, supplementary analysis.
Submission via Frontiers system
Day 0Submit at https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/. Required: manuscript emphasizing microorganism novelty and significance, figures showing characterization and mechanism, cover letter highlighting biological/applied impact.
Editorial assessment
1-2 weeksEditor assesses microorganism novelty and biological significance. Papers lacking clear significance or functional validation face lower priority. Moderate desk rejection ~20-30%.
Peer review
90-120 days2-3 microbiology experts assess novelty, characterization rigor, mechanistic plausibility, and significance. First decision 90-120 days.
Revision and publication
Revision: 4-8 weeksRevisions often request additional functional or mechanistic data. Publication 2-4 weeks after acceptance.
Front. Microbiol. by the Numbers
| 2024 Impact Factor | 4.0 |
| 5-Year Impact Factor | 4.2 |
| Acceptance rate | ~40-50% |
| Desk rejection rate | ~20-30% |
| Median first decision | ~105 days |
| Open access APC | ~$1,500-2,000 |
| Publisher | Frontiers |
| Founded | 2010 |
Before you submit
Front. Microbiol. accepts a small fraction of submissions. Make your attempt count.
Start with the Free Readiness Scan. Unlock the Full Review from $49, with local pricing shown before checkout. If you need deeper submission planning, choose the Submission-Ready Dossier. The full report is calibrated to Front. Microbiol..
Article Types
Research Article
5,000-8,000 wordsMicrobiology research with characterization and mechanism
Review
7,000-12,000 wordsMicrobiology topic review
Mini Review
3,000-4,000 wordsFocused microbiology topic review
Landmark Front. Microbiol. Papers
Papers that defined fields and changed science:
- Antibiotic resistance mechanisms (various) - clinical relevance
- Gut microbiota composition studies (2000s+) - health implications
- CRISPR applications in bacteria (2010s+) - genetic engineering
- Quorum sensing discovery (1980s+) - bacterial communication
- Probiotic mechanisms (1990s+) - health benefits of specific strains
Preparing a Front. Microbiol. Submission?
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Primary Fields
Latest Journal-Specific Guides
- Submission guideFrontiers in Microbiology Submission Guide: Steps, Timeline & What Editors WantFrontiers in Microbiology submission guide: manuscripts without comprehensive reviewer-response documentation extend revision rounds.
- Journal assessmentIs Frontiers in Microbiology a Good Journal? OA Visibility vs SelectivityFrontiers in Microbiology is a broad OA microbiology journal with IF 4.5. Here's when it fits, the Frontiers perception issue, and how it compares to mBio, AEM, and ISME Journal.
- Desk rejectionHow to Avoid Desk Rejection at Frontiers in MicrobiologyHow to avoid desk rejection at Frontiers in Microbiology: microbial function, biological consequence, and real-world validation.
- Review timelineFrontiers in Microbiology Review Time: What Authors Can Actually ExpectFrontiers in Microbiology is fast compared with many traditional microbiology journals, but the useful question is not just how quickly the system moves. It is whether the paper is in the right section and whether the biology goes beyond description.
More Guides for This Journal
- Acceptance rateFrontiers in Microbiology Acceptance Rate: What Authors Can UseFrontiers in Microbiology does not publish a strong official acceptance rate. The better submission question is whether the paper is section-ready, review-ready, and suited to the Frontiers model.
- Impact factorFrontiers in Microbiology Impact Factor 2026: 4.5, Q1, Rank 38/163Frontiers in Microbiology impact factor is 4.5 with a 5-year JIF of 5.2. See rank, trend, and what that means before submission.
- Publishing costsFrontiers in Microbiology APC and Open Access: What CHF 2,950 Buys in a Gold OA MegajournalFrontiers in Microbiology charges CHF 2,950 for gold OA. Compare waivers, institutional deals, ASM, mBio, and ISME.
- Submission processFrontiers in Microbiology Submission Process: What Happens From Upload to First DecisionA practical guide to the Frontiers in Microbiology submission process, including section routing, collaborative review, and common delays.
- Manuscript prepFrontiers in Microbiology Response to Reviewers: How to Win the Interactive Review (2026)How to write a point-by-point response to reviewers for Frontiers in Microbiology, where the review is a live collaborative forum, acceptance turns on validity not impact, and every assigned reviewer must endorse your paper before it publishes.
- Publishing guideIs Frontiers in Microbiology Predatory? A Practical VerdictFrontiers in Microbiology is not predatory. It has recognized indexing, Q1 ranking, and PubMed coverage - but the Frontiers review model and institutional downgrades are worth understanding.
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