Editorial Policy

Author Contributions
Frontiers in Microbiology and Biotechnology requires that the contributions of each author be clearly specified in the manuscript. Authors should be credited according to the ICMJE recommendations, ensuring they are accountable for the parts of the work they have contributed to. Additionally, authors must confirm the integrity of the entire work presented in the manuscript and disclose any other relevant contributions to the research.

Competing Interests
All authors, editors, and reviewers must disclose any competing interests that could potentially influence their judgment in manuscript review or editorial decisions. This disclosure ensures transparency and upholds the integrity of the peer review process.

Compliance with Community Guidelines and Mandates
Frontiers in Microbiology and Biotechnology adheres to the highest standards of ethical research practices, ensuring compliance with relevant community standards and guidelines within the fields of microbiology and biotechnology. Authors are expected to follow established best practices for conducting research in these areas and align their submissions with the journal’s scope and ethical requirements.

Confidentiality and Embargos
Confidentiality is paramount at Frontiers in Microbiology and Biotechnology. All communications related to manuscripts, including author and peer reviewer details, are considered confidential. Authors, editors, and reviewers are required to maintain confidentiality throughout the manuscript evaluation process. The journal may provide select papers under embargo to media outlets for dissemination prior to formal publication.

Consent of Human Participants
Research involving human participants must adhere to ethical guidelines regarding informed consent. Authors must ensure that participants are fully informed about the details of the study, and consent must be freely given without any form of coercion. Manuscripts involving human participants should provide a clear statement regarding consent and ethical approval.

Correction and Retractions
Frontiers in Microbiology and Biotechnology ensures that published articles meet the highest standards of integrity. If any issues arise after publication, including errors, fraudulent claims, or ethical concerns, the journal will act promptly to correct or retract the article as necessary, in accordance with COPE guidelines.

Corresponding Authors
The corresponding author is responsible for managing communication between all co-authors and the journal. The corresponding author ensures that all co-authors approve the final manuscript version and the submission for publication, acting as the primary point of contact throughout the publication process.

Diversity Commitment
At Frontiers in Microbiology and Biotechnology, we are committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion both in the editorial team and the research we publish. We recognize that diversity strengthens research outcomes, and we foster these principles in all aspects of our editorial activities and in the research community.

Editorial Independence
We maintain editorial independence from financial, commercial, and institutional influences. Editorial decisions are based solely on scientific merit and the relevance of the research, ensuring an unbiased review and publishing process.

Fraud and Malpractice
Frontiers in Microbiology and Biotechnology takes the issue of research misconduct seriously. The journal has clear procedures for investigating any suspected cases of fraud, malpractice, or ethical violations, and will take appropriate action to protect the integrity of the scientific record.

Funder Affiliations
Authors are required to acknowledge all sources of financial support for their research. The funding sources should be disclosed in the manuscript, and their access to the published research should be clear. This ensures transparency and proper attribution of financial contributions to the research.

Institutional Affiliations
Authors should clearly indicate their institutional affiliations, and the journal ensures that these affiliations are transparent for readers. Institutions may access the research they have supported, promoting transparency and collaboration in scientific publishing.

Peer Review
The peer review process at Frontiers in Microbiology and Biotechnology is fundamental to ensuring the reliability and trustworthiness of the published research. We conduct a rigorous and transparent review process to verify the validity and significance of the research. Manuscripts are reviewed by at least two independent experts in the field, and authors are encouraged to engage with reviewers constructively.

Personal Data
Personal data, including any sensitive information, should be handled with the utmost care and only disclosed with the explicit consent of the individual concerned. The journal is committed to protecting personal data in compliance with relevant data protection regulations.

Plagiarism
Frontiers in Microbiology and Biotechnology does not tolerate plagiarism in any form. All submitted manuscripts undergo plagiarism checks, and any detected instances of plagiarism will result in the immediate rejection of the manuscript and may result in further consequences, including retraction of published work.

Preprints
We support the sharing of preprints as a means to accelerate the dissemination of research findings. Authors may upload preprints to appropriate repositories prior to formal peer review and publication. Preprints will be considered as part of the publication process if submitted alongside the final version.

Research Data
Authors are encouraged to share their research data and comply with community standards for data sharing and archiving. Supporting data should be made available upon request, ensuring the transparency and reproducibility of published research.

Submitting Your Manuscript
Frontiers in Microbiology and Biotechnology strives to make the manuscript submission process as simple and transparent as possible. Authors should submit their manuscripts through the online submission system, including any supplementary information or datasets relevant to their research.

Third-Party Submissions
We require authors to ensure that they have secured the necessary permissions for any third-party content included in their manuscript, including figures, tables, or text. All third-party content should be properly attributed and cited in accordance with copyright laws.

Article Withdrawal
Articles may only be withdrawn if there are valid reasons, such as accidental duplicate submissions, major errors, or ethical violations. Articles that have been accepted but not yet published may be withdrawn for similar reasons, in compliance with the journal’s policy on article withdrawals.

Image Integrity
Images submitted to Frontiers in Microbiology and Biotechnology should accurately represent the data. Alterations such as adjusting brightness, contrast, or color may be made for clarity, but any manipulation that changes the scientific meaning of the image is prohibited. Authors must ensure that image integrity is maintained throughout the publication process.