Editors’ prelude to MicrobialLife

It is with great pleasure and a strong sense of purpose that we introduce MicrobialLife, a newly established scientific journal dedicated to advancing the frontiers of microbiology. This initiative arises from the shared vision and commitment of the Editorial Board to create a dynamic and authoritative platform for the dissemination of high-quality microbiological research.

We are convinced that the launch of MicrobialLife is both very timely and necessary. Microorganisms are fundamental to life on Earth, playing indispensable roles in sustaining ecosystems, maintaining human and animal health, and driving global biogeochemical cycles.

The ongoing global changes of our planet, mainly driven by human activity, are challenging the microbial world with unpredictable consequences for the roles they support. Their influence spans multiple and diverse sectors, including healthcare, the food industry, agriculture, environmental sustainability, and biotechnology. In recent years, the scientific community has witnessed an unprecedented surge of interest and investment in microbiology, fuelled by technological advances and a growing recognition of the profound impact of microbial systems. In this regard, we believe that a dedicated journal such as MicrobialLife will serve as a dynamic forum for the exchange of knowledge and advancement of innovative scientific discoveries.

MicrobialLife is committed to publishing original research that deepens our understanding of microbial life in all its complexity and diversity. The journal embraces a broad scope, encompassing fundamental studies on microbial physiology, molecular biology, genetics, ecology and evolution, as well as derived applications. In addition, it welcomes research addressing microbiological phenomena of practical and translational relevance, thereby bridging the gap between basic science and real-world applications. Through this integrative approach, the journal aims to highlight both the foundational principles of microbiology and their implications across applied domains.

The journal invites high-quality, impactful contributions spanning the full breadth of microbiological research. Areas of particular interest include, but are not limited to:

• Antimicrobial and anti-viral resistance, mechanisms of action of antimicrobials, and horizontal transfer of resistance

• Biodegradation and microbially driven bioprocesses

• Environmental microbiology and ecosystem-level microbial dynamics

• Eukaryotic microbiology

• Evolutionary, comparative, and genomic microbiology

• Food microbiology and microbial food safety

• Geomicrobiology and microbe–mineral interactions

• Vaccinology, industrial microbiology, and applied microbiology

• Medical, veterinary, and clinical microbiology

• Methodological and technological innovations advancing microbiological research

• Microbial biotechnology and bioengineering

• Microbial ecology, population dynamics, and evolutionary processes

• Microbial genetics, genomics and molecular microbiology

• Microbial physiology and metabolism

• Virology, including ecological, evolutionary, public health, virus-host interactions, industrial, and biotechnological aspects

• Systems microbiology

All submissions to MicrobialLife will be subject to a rigorous, transparent, and fair peer-review process, overseen by an internationally recognized Editorial Board composed of leading experts across diverse areas of microbiology. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of scientific integrity, quality, and editorial excellence.

Our ambition is to establish MicrobialLife as a leading journal in microbiology within the next three years, being recognized for its scientific rigor, broad scope, and global impact. We pursue this goal at a time when the scientific publishing landscape is rapidly evolving and increasingly demanding, presenting both challenges and opportunities. In this context, we warmly invite researchers from around the world to contribute their most innovative and high-quality work. Together, we seek to foster a dynamic scientific community and to advance our collective understanding of the microbial world and its essential role in shaping life on our planet.