Research papers must make a significant and original contribution to
microbiology and be of interest to a broad readership. The results of any
experimental approach that meets these objectives are welcome, particularly
biochemical, molecular genetic, physiological, and/or physical investigations into
microbial cells and their interactions with their environments, including their eukaryotic hosts.

Mini-reviews in areas of special topical interest and papers on medical microbiology, ecology and systematics, including description of novel taxa, are also published.

Theoretical papers and those that report on the analysis or 'mining' of data are
acceptable in principle if new information, interpretations, or hypotheses
emerge.