Journal Guide

AIMSSoil Biology & Biochemistry publishes original, scientifically challenging research articles of international significance that describe and explain biological processes occurring in soil. These include the possible applications of such knowledge to issues of soil and environmental quality - insofar as such studies inform our understanding of the role of soil biology and biochemistry in mediating soil functions, agricultural sustainability and ecosystem services. The ecology and biochemical processes of soil organisms, their effects on the environment and their interactions with plants are major topics. The applications of new molecular, microscopic and analytical techniques to understanding and explaining population and community dynamics is of great interest. The journal also publishes state-of-the-art reviews of contemporary research that present significant and novel hypotheses, as well as comments and arguments about specific and often controversial aspects of life in the soil.SCOPEThe scope of Soil Biology & Biochemistry is wide and embraces accounts of recent original research on any aspect of the biology and biochemistry of soils. Some of the subjects that are receiving increasing attention are: novel molecular approaches to explore community dynamics and processes and provide bioassays for soil phenomena; modelling of soil biological and biochemical processes; mitigation and adaption to climate change; carbon storage and soil organic matter dynamics; effects of introduced genetically modified organisms; application and outcomes of biotechnology on the soil environment and its biological functions; biological farming; role of soil biota in ecological engineering; microbial and plant signalling mechanisms; effects of invasive species; soil structure and biota interactions; and relationships between the biota and soil physicochemical properties.Benefits to authorsWe also provide many author benefits, such as free PDFs, a liberal copyright policy, special discounts on Elsevier publications and much more. Please click here for more information on our author services.Please see our Guide for Authors for information on article submission. If you require any further information or help, please visit our support pages: http://support.elsevier.com

Symbiosis publishes the results of original research contributing to the understanding of symbiotic interactions at the molecular, cellular and organismic levels. The journal is intended introduce new or unknown symbioses for research in symbiology. This wide-ranging approach is designed to encourage and enhance interaction among researchers in the various sectors of an intriguing and rapidly expanding field. Topics of particular interest include nutritional interactions; mutual regulatory and morphogenic effects; structural coadaptations; interspecific recognition and specificity; ecological adaptations; evolutionary consequences of symbiosis; culture and other specific methods used for symbiotic research. Symbiosis publishes accounts of original studies, review articles, book reviews, meeting reports and a calendar of events.

Systematic and Applied Microbiology deals with various aspects of microbialdiversity and systematics of prokaryotes. It focuses on Bacteria and Archaea; eukaryotic microorganisms will only be considered in rare cases. The journal perceives a broad understanding of microbial diversity and encourages the submission of manuscripts from the following branches of microbiology: Systematics: Theoretical and practical issues dealing with classification and taxonomy, i.e. (i) new descriptions or revisions of prokaryotic taxa, including descriptions of not-yet cultured taxa in the category Candidatus (ii) innovative methods for the determination of taxonomical and genealogical relationships, (iii) evaluation of intra-taxon diversity through multidisciplinary approaches, (iv) identification methods. Applied Microbiology: all aspects of agricultural, industrial, and food microbiology are welcome, including water and wastewater treatment. Comparative biochemistry and genomics: studies concerning biochemical/metabolic and genomic diversity of cultured as well as yet-uncultured Bacteria and Archaea. Ecology: descriptions of the microbial diversity in natural and man-made ecosystem; studies quantifying the size, dynamics, and function of microbial populations; innovative research on the interaction of micro-organisms with each other and their biotic and abiotic environment.

HE GENEVA RISK AND INSURANCE REVIEW (GRIR) strives to publish high quality papers that advance our understanding of industry behavioural changes under uncertainty.The Journal direction is towards economics in general, focusing on risk and insurance in particular. Although most of the papers published are theoretical, GRIR also publishes tests and competing theories in order to expand understanding of insurance economics. The editors are especially interested in new and innovative ideas and see the topic area of 'risk and insurance' rather broadly, encouraging papers from related disciplines.Published twice a year this international journal provides a forum for the exchange of academic findings and views on the technical aspects of risk and insurance economics, whilst also supporting and encouraging research. The journal aims to publish: Authoritative contributions regarding risk, insurance and related areas Theoretical papers as well as empirical and/or experimental research for global dissemination New innovative ideas in insurance economics.

The ISME Journal seeks to promote diverse and integrated areas of microbial ecology spanning the breadth of microbial life, including bacteria, archaea, microbial eukaryotes, and viruses. Contributions of broad biological interest and impact are especially encouraged. Topics of particular interest within the journal's scope include those listed below: * Microbial population and community ecology *Theoretical advances in microbial population and community ecology, including novel theoretical development relevant to the diversity and structure of microbial populations and communities, advances in modeling and comparisons of microbial ecological principles with those in macroecology *Biogeography of microbial populations *Environmental factors (biotic and abiotic) defining the distribution and abundance of microbial populations *Integrated advances in microbial ecophysiology *Phage genetics and ecology and environmental virology, including studies of interactions between viruses and the environment, vectors of viral transmission, epidemiology, and diversity (including generation and maintenance) * Community level research of microbial assemblages, with emphasis on the contribution of individuals and populations * Microbial survival and persistence mechanisms: Development and selection for resistance (heavy metals, antibiotics etc.) * Microbe-microbe and microbe-host interactions * Microbial communication and signaling, and advances that allow study on scales relevant to microbial interactivities * Plant-microbe interactions, including feed back and response pathways, underlying mechanisms, environmental cues, unique traits, evolution, adaptation and fitness * Threat of emerging diseases (pathogenicity, epidemiology, ecology of reservoirs, vectors and host) * Symbioses and syntrophic relationships * Microbial contribution to medical biotechnology and microbial therapy * Commensal microbial ecology - intestinal, oral, etc. * Evolutionary genetics * Ecological aspects of experimental evolution * Insights into genome evolution and adaptation * Genetics and ecology of the horizontal gene pool * Advances in mathematical and evolutionary genetics * Integrated genomics and post-genomics approaches in microbial ecology * Studies of in situ function, gene regulation and expression * Metagenomic genomic approaches to understanding and accessing the genomic potential of microbial communities * Novel microbial ecology approaches involving (environmental) proteomics and metabolomics o Theoretical and practical advances in Bioinformatics, including improved linkages between ecological parameters and molecular data, as well as advances in curation and annotation practices * Novel "-omics' approaches that address microbial activities and potential at the single-cell level * Microbial engineering * Environmental Biotechnology, including ecological interactions key to waste water treatment, water management, biofilters, energy production, etc. * Development and mechanisms of microbial biocatalysts * Developments in bioremediation and biodegradation * Microbial contributions and potential in biofuel technologies * Microbial process modeling and its application * Geomicrobiology and microbial contributions to geochemical cycles * Integrated advances in biogeochemistry * Microbial contributions to geochemical cycles * Importance and mechanisms of microbe-mineral interactions * Microbial ecology and functional diversity of natural habitats * Terrestrial and subsurface microbial ecology * Aquatic and sediment microbial ecology * Linking phylogeny and function in diverse ecosystems - common, novel and extreme * Biofilm functional microbial ecology * Aero - microbiology (distribution, source impact etc), including issues of climate and dispersal * Microbial processes and interactions in extreme or unusual environments * Microbial ecosystem impacts * Impacts of microbial processes on climate change, and impacts of climate change on microbial communities and processes * Food web structure, nutrient flow, and biological transformations from micro- through macro- scales * Systems microbiology and integration of microbial ecology into systems ecology.

The Journal of Antibiotics seeks to promote research on antibiotics and related types of medicinal substances. The journal will accept biochemical, chemical, microbiological and pharmacological studies. However, studies regarding human therapy do not fall under the journal's scope. Contributions regarding antibiotics and bioactive microbial products are particularly encouraged. Topics of particular interest within the journal's scope include, but are not limited to, those listed below: * Discovery of new antibiotics and related microbial products * Production, isolation, characterization, structural elucidation, chemical synthesis and derivatization, biological activities, mechanisms of action, and structure-activity relationships of antibiotics and related microbial products * Biosynthesis, bioconversion, taxonomy and genetic studies on producing microorganisms, as well as improvement of production of antibiotics and related microbial products * Novel physical, chemical, biochemical, microbiological or pharmacological methods for detection, assay, determination, structural elucidation and evaluation of antibiotics and related microbial products * Newly found properties, mechanisms of action and resistance-development of antibiotics and related microbial productsThe Journal of Antibiotics's original articles cover new theories and primary research. The journal also publishes regular short reviews, book reviews, and news and commentary articles.

The Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology publishes original research on protists, including lower algae and fungi. Articles are published covering all aspects of these organisms, including their behavior, biochemistry, cell biology, chemotherapy, development, ecology, evolution, genetics, molecular biology, morphogenetics, parasitology, systematics, and ultrastructure.

Published continuously since 1904, The Journal of Infectious Diseases (JID) is the premier global journal for original research on infectious diseases. The editors welcome Major Articles and Brief Reports describing research results on microbiology, immunology, epidemiology, and related disciplines, on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases; on the microbes that cause them; and on disorders of host immune responses. JID is an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases is an international, peer-reviewed scientific journal. It publishes original research papers, short communications, state-of-the-art mini-reviews, letters to the editor, clinical-case studies, announcements of pertinent international meetings, and editorials.
The journal covers a broad spectrum and brings together various disciplines, for example, zoology, microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, mathematical modelling, veterinary and human medicine. Multidisciplinary approaches and the use of conventional and novel methods/methodologies (in the field and in the laboratory) are crucial for deeper understanding of the natural processes and human behaviour/activities that result in human or animal diseases and in economic effects of ticks and tick-borne pathogens. Such understanding is essential for management of tick populations and tick-borne diseases in an effective and environmentally acceptable manner. The journal covers the following topics:

Ticks: biosystematics/taxonomy, morphology, evolution, ecology, physiology/biochemistry, behaviour, molecular biology, genomics/proteomics, and control

Ecology/ecoepidemiology of tick-borne diseases: vector ticks and reservoir hosts, the mechanisms and processes determining their abundance and distribution, the occurrence and prevalence of pathogens in tick and tick-host populations, tick-host-pathogen interactions at the ecological level and their dependence upon environmental factors, natural focality, and risk assessments of exposure to ticks and the occurrence of tick-borne diseases

Tick-borne pathogens: viruses, bacteria, and parasites, their biology in ticks and vertebrates, pathogen-tick and pathogen-host interactions on the molecular and cellular levels, transmission, coinfection, genomics/proteomics, and biosystematics/taxonomy

Tick-borne diseases in domestic animals and wildlife: epidemiology, diagnosis, immunology, treatment, vaccination, control/management, and economics

Tick-borne human diseases: epidemiology, diagnosis, immunology, treatment, vaccination, socioeconomics, and public health

In addition, methodological papers on all these areas will be published as well as timely reviews on vectors and vector-borne diseases in which tick biology or tick-borne diseases are addressed.

For more information, go to http://www.cell.com/trends/microbiology

Trials in Vaccinology is a new peer-reviewed online-only journal that will guarantee direct public access to the results of vaccine trials in humans and target animals, especially those of whose scientific novelty is not exceptional, and thus increase the transparency of current supportive scientific research in the field of vaccines. It will also provide opportunities for those engaged in these trials to gain recognition for their work and for those who use or comment on the value of vaccines to gain additional evidence to further hone their understandings.The objective of this journal is to be inclusive and supportive, and not to select only those trials that make innovative contributions to the field of vaccinology; these latter papers will find their home in the journal "Vaccine"http://www.elsevier.com/locate/vaccineTrials in Vaccinology will provide a facility that will enable both vaccinologists and those interested in the use of vaccines to gain insights and understandings of the breadth and depth of evidence that is available for the appreciation of the properties of a vaccine and its place in the healthcare and animal husbandry systems that are used in different countries and with particular cohorts of vaccinees.Benefits to authorsWe also provide many author benefits, such as free PDFs, a liberal copyright policy, special discounts on Elsevier publications and much more. Please click here for more information on our author services.Please see our Guide for Authors for information on article submission. If you require any further information or help, please visit our support pages: http://support.elsevier.com

Tuberculosis is a speciality journal focusing on basic experimental research on tuberculosis, notably on bacteriological, immunological and pathogenesis aspects of the disease. The journal publishes original research and reviews on the host response and immunology of tuberculosis and the molecular biology, genetics and physiology of the organism.Areas covered include:ImmunologyImmunogeneticsPathogeneticsMicrobiologyMicrobial physiologyPathogenesisPathologyMolecular epidemiologyDiagnosticsVaccine developmentDrug resistanceThe resurgence of interest in tuberculosis has accelerated the pace of relevant research and Tuberculosis has grown with it, as the only journal dedicated to experimental biomedical research in tuberculosis.To view the benefits of Online Submission please click here.

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases is the first, authoritative peer-reviewed journal dedicated to diseases transmitted to humans by invertebrate vectors or non-human vertebrates. The Journal covers a widespread group of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases including bacterial, chlamydial, rickettsial, viral, and parasitic zoonoses and provides a unique platform for basic and applied disease research.

Veterinary Microbiology is concerned with microbial (bacterial, fungal, viral) diseases of domesticated animals (livestock, companion animals, fur-bearing animals, game, poultry, fish) that supply food, other useful products or companionship. In addition, Microbial diseases of wild animals living in captivity, or as members of the feral fauna will also be considered if the infections are of interest because of their interrelation with humans (zoonoses) and/or domestic animals. Studies of antimicrobial resistance are also included.Original research papers of high quality and novelty on aspects of control, host response, molecular biology, pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of microbial diseases of animals are published. Papers dealing primarily with immunology or epidemiology will only be considered if they demonstrate a clear impact on the pathogenesis of a disease. The same applies to papers on antiviral and antimicrobial agents. Papers focussing solely on diagnostic techniques (such as another PCR protocol or ELISA) will not be published - focus should be on a microorganism and not on a particular technique.Drug trial papers will be considered if they have general application or significance. Papers on the identification of microorganisms will also be considered, but detailed taxonomic studies do not fall within the scope of the journal. Case reports will not be published, unless they have general application or contain novel aspects. Papers of geographically limited interest, which repeat what had been established elsewhere will not be considered. The readership of the journal is global. The Editors reserve the right to suggest submission to another journal for those papers which they feel would be more appropriate for consideration by that journal.Papers will be rejected if standards of care of, or procedures performed on, animals are not up to those expected of humane veterinary scientists. At a minimum, standards must meet the International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research involving Animals, as issued by the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences. (C.I.O.M.S., c/o WHO, CH 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland.