Editorial Policies

  1. Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosures (specific to editors)
  2. COPE Recommendation for Plagiarism
  3. Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement
  4. Peer Review Process
  5. Advertisement Policies
  6. Editorial Process
  7. COPE Recommendation for Conflict of Interest (specific to editors)
  8. Editorial Policies
  9. Publisher Policies
  10. Creative Commons License

1. Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosures (Specific to Editors)

The International Journal of Bacteriology and Mycology takes the issue of conflict of interest (COI) very seriously to ensure that all editorial decisions are made impartially, based solely on the quality of the manuscript. Editors must disclose any potential conflicts that may affect their objectivity in the decision-making process. This includes financial, personal, or professional relationships with the authors, institutions, or organizations involved in the research.

Editors are required to disclose the following types of conflicts:

  • Financial Conflicts: Any financial ties, including funding from pharmaceutical companies, academic grants, or other commercial entities that could be seen as influencing the editor's judgment.
  • Personal Relationships: Any familial or close personal relationships with the authors or institutions associated with the manuscript.
  • Professional Relationships: Involvement in collaborative research, co-authorship, or previous work with any of the authors.
  • Competing Interests: Editors must also disclose any competing interests where their own research may overlap with the topic of the submitted manuscript.

If a conflict of interest is identified, the editor is expected to recuse themselves from the decision-making process and a new editor or associate editor will be assigned. This ensures that decisions are made objectively, with no undue influence, and that the integrity of the publication process is maintained.

In addition, financial disclosures related to external funding or commercial interests that could affect the editorial decision-making process must also be shared transparently to avoid any perception of bias or corruption in the peer review process.

2. COPE Recommendation for Plagiarism

The International Journal of Bacteriology and Mycology follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines on handling plagiarism. Plagiarism is considered a serious ethical breach in academic publishing, and the journal has a stringent policy to detect and address it. To maintain the highest standards of academic integrity, the journal utilizes plagiarism detection software, such as Turnitin or iThenticate, to check for instances of copied content or improper citation practices in all submitted manuscripts.

Steps for Handling Plagiarism:

  • Initial Check: All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial plagiarism check as part of the editorial screening process. If any substantial portions of a manuscript are flagged for plagiarism, the editor will notify the authors and request clarification.
  • Minor Plagiarism: In cases where minor sections of a manuscript are found to be similar to previously published work, the editor may ask the authors to revise the manuscript, provide proper citations, or rephrase the content to ensure originality.
  • Major Plagiarism: If substantial plagiarism is detected, the manuscript will be immediately rejected. The authors will be informed of the issue, and a note of the plagiarism incident will be added to the manuscript record for future reference.
  • Post-publication Issues: If plagiarism is detected after the article has been published, the journal will issue a correction or retraction, depending on the severity of the situation. This ensures that the integrity of the scientific record is maintained.

By adhering to COPE’s recommendations, the International Journal of Bacteriology and Mycology ensures that only original, well-cited work is published, maintaining the trust and credibility of the journal in the scientific community.

3. Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The International Journal of Bacteriology and Mycology is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical publishing. The Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement serves as a clear guideline for authors, editors, and reviewers to follow in all matters related to academic conduct. The statement is in line with international best practices and guidelines, including those of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and ensures that the journal’s editorial practices are transparent, unbiased, and ethical.

Core Principles:

  • Authorship: Authors must be able to take public responsibility for the content of the paper. Only individuals who have significantly contributed to the conception, design, data acquisition, or analysis of the manuscript should be listed as authors.
  • Confidentiality: Editors and reviewers must treat submitted manuscripts as confidential and not disclose or discuss them with unauthorized individuals.
  • Plagiarism: As outlined above, plagiarism is prohibited and will be actively detected and addressed.
  • Data Integrity: Authors must ensure that the data presented is original, accurately represented, and not manipulated. Fabricated or falsified data will result in immediate rejection of the manuscript and potential retraction if the article has already been published.
  • Conflict of Interest: All conflicts of interest must be disclosed, as per the journal's policies on transparency and fairness.
  • Misconduct: In cases of research misconduct, such as falsification or fabrication of data, ethical violations, or other unethical practices, the journal will take appropriate action, which may include retraction or correction of the article.

The Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement reinforces the journal’s commitment to maintaining ethical rigor throughout the editorial and publishing process.

4. Peer Review Process

The peer review process is central to ensuring the quality and integrity of the International Journal of Bacteriology and Mycology's content. The journal uses a double-blind peer review process, where both the identities of the authors and the reviewers are kept confidential. This system reduces bias and ensures that the evaluation is based solely on the quality of the research.

Process Overview:

  • Submission: Authors submit their manuscripts to the journal’s online submission system, where they undergo an initial review by the editorial team for suitability.
  • Selection of Reviewers: The editor selects expert reviewers in the field of bacteriology or mycology who are qualified to evaluate the manuscript. These reviewers are invited to review the manuscript and provide feedback.
  • Review: Reviewers assess the manuscript’s scientific rigor, significance, methodology, clarity, and adherence to ethical guidelines. They provide detailed feedback, including suggestions for improvement or revisions.
  • Decision: Based on the reviewers’ comments and recommendations, the editor decides whether the manuscript should be accepted, revised, or rejected.
  • Revisions: If revisions are required, the authors will be asked to address the feedback and resubmit the manuscript for further evaluation.
  • Final Acceptance: Once the manuscript meets the required standards, it is accepted for publication. The final decision is based on the manuscript’s scientific merit and the quality of the revisions.

This transparent and fair peer review process helps maintain the scientific rigor of the journal while providing authors with valuable feedback to improve their work.

5. Advertisement Policies

The International Journal of Bacteriology and Mycology maintains a strict policy on advertisements to ensure that commercial interests do not influence the editorial content of the journal. Advertisements are allowed in the journal; however, they must not interfere with the integrity of the editorial process or the scientific content. Advertisements must be clearly distinguished from the journal’s content to avoid confusion.

The journal does not accept advertisements that may compromise the ethical or scientific standards of the journal, and all advertisements must be relevant to the field of bacteriology and mycology or related areas of life sciences.

6. Editorial Process

The editorial process at the International Journal of Bacteriology and Mycology involves a thorough review of each manuscript submitted for publication. The editorial team, led by the editor-in-chief, works with a panel of associate editors and reviewers to evaluate submissions for scientific quality, relevance to the journal's scope, and adherence to the journal's ethical guidelines. The editorial board is committed to making unbiased, evidence-based decisions, and works to provide authors with constructive feedback for improving their research.

7. COPE Recommendation for Conflict of Interest (Specific to Editors)

The International Journal of Bacteriology and Mycology follows the COPE guidelines on managing conflicts of interest specific to editors. Editors must disclose any financial, personal, or professional relationships that could influence their editorial decisions. The journal encourages transparency, and editors are expected to recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists.

8. Editorial Policies

The editorial policies of the International Journal of Bacteriology and Mycology ensure consistency, fairness, and adherence to ethical guidelines in all editorial decisions. The policies cover issues such as authorship, manuscript preparation, and the peer review process. These policies are designed to support both authors and reviewers in maintaining the highest standards of research and publication ethics.

9. Publisher Policies

The publisher policies of the International Journal of Bacteriology and Mycology focus on the journal's commitment to open-access publishing, ethical standards, and ensuring that all content is available to the scientific community free of charge. The publisher supports the integrity of the peer review process and ensures that all manuscripts are handled with transparency and fairness.

10. Creative Commons License

The International Journal of Bacteriology and Mycology publishes all its articles under a Creative Commons (CC) license, allowing for free access and distribution of published work. Authors retain copyright to their work, while granting the journal a license to distribute it under the CC BY license, which allows others to share and adapt the content with proper attribution to the original author.