Author Policies

1. English Language Editing

The English Language Editing Policy ensures that all manuscripts submitted to the journal are of the highest linguistic quality. Manuscripts that do not meet the journal’s language standards may be returned for revision or sent to professional language editors. The journal recommends that authors whose first language is not English consider having their work edited before submission to avoid rejection due to language issues. Editing services may involve grammar corrections, punctuation, syntax improvement, and overall readability enhancement to meet the standards of clarity and scientific communication.

2. Open Access Policy

The Open Access Policy of the International Journal of Microbiology Research and Reviews promotes the unrestricted dissemination of research findings. All articles published by the journal are freely accessible to anyone, anywhere, at no cost. Authors retain the copyright to their work, and readers can freely view, download, and distribute the content, fostering global knowledge exchange. This policy aligns with the growing trend toward open science and transparency, ensuring that valuable scientific research is available to a broader audience without financial barriers.

3. Withdrawal Policy

The Withdrawal Policy governs the procedures by which authors can retract or withdraw their submitted manuscripts from the journal’s review process. Authors may request to withdraw their manuscript prior to acceptance, but after acceptance, the withdrawal will only be allowed under exceptional circumstances. The policy aims to prevent misuse or unethical practices such as duplicate submissions or the withdrawal of a paper after acceptance to avoid negative publicity. Clear guidelines are set for the withdrawal process, ensuring transparency and accountability.

4. APC Waiver Policy

The APC Waiver Policy outlines the criteria under which authors may be eligible for a waiver of the Article Processing Charges (APC). These charges typically apply after a manuscript is accepted for publication to cover the costs of production and online hosting. However, in cases of financial hardship or for authors from low-income countries, waivers or discounts may be provided. Authors must apply for a waiver before submission, and their requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. This policy ensures that financial constraints do not hinder the dissemination of important research.

5. Digital Preservation

The Digital Preservation Policy ensures that all articles published in the International Journal of Microbiology Research and Reviews are securely archived and preserved for long-term access. The journal partners with digital preservation services and repositories to maintain the integrity of published research and ensure its availability for future generations of researchers. This policy aligns with international best practices for digital preservation, ensuring that the journal's content is safeguarded against data loss or technological obsolescence.

6. Human and Animal Rights Policy

The Human and Animal Rights Policy sets forth the ethical standards and guidelines for conducting research involving human and animal subjects. The journal adheres to the principles of ethical research and ensures that all submitted manuscripts comply with the relevant laws and regulations. Authors must confirm that their research has been conducted with the approval of appropriate ethics committees, and that informed consent has been obtained from human participants. Animal studies must adhere to ethical guidelines for animal care and use in research.

7. Article Processing Charge (APC)

The Article Processing Charge (APC) is a fee that authors must pay upon the acceptance of their manuscript for publication in the journal. This charge supports the journal's operational costs, including peer review, editorial work, and the online hosting of articles. The APC ensures that the journal remains financially sustainable while offering high-quality publishing services. Details on the APC rates and payment procedures are provided to authors upon manuscript submission.

8. Errata, Retractions, and Corrigenda Policy

The Errata, Retractions, and Corrigenda Policy describes the procedures followed by the journal when a published article requires correction or retraction. In cases of errors or inaccuracies that affect the scientific integrity of a publication, an erratum or corrigendum will be issued to correct the record. If an article is found to be fraudulent or compromised due to serious ethical violations, a retraction will be published to maintain the integrity of the scientific record.

9. Data Sharing Policy

The Data Sharing Policy encourages authors to share the underlying data from their research to promote transparency and reproducibility. The journal supports the principle that research data should be made publicly available, whenever possible, through reputable repositories or data archives. Authors are encouraged to submit supplementary data files or links to external datasets. The policy also specifies guidelines for how to handle sensitive or proprietary data that may not be suitable for public sharing.

10. Complaints Policy

The Complaints Policy outlines how complaints related to the journal’s publishing practices are addressed. Authors, reviewers, and readers who have concerns about the editorial process, peer review, or any other aspect of the publication are encouraged to submit formal complaints. The editorial board takes these complaints seriously and investigates them thoroughly, ensuring that all concerns are handled professionally and ethically. The policy ensures a fair and transparent approach to resolving disputes.

11. Rights and Grants to the Author

The Rights and Grants to the Author policy clarifies the ownership and licensing of intellectual property. Authors retain copyright over their published works, but by submitting to the journal, they grant the journal the right to publish, distribute, and display the article. Authors also grant the journal a non-exclusive license to use their work under the terms of the open access license. The policy also outlines the author's responsibilities regarding proper attribution and third-party rights.

12. Manuscript Preparation

The Manuscript Preparation Policy provides authors with detailed guidelines on formatting, structure, and content for manuscript submission. This includes the correct arrangement of sections, the use of headings, reference citation style, and ethical considerations. Authors must ensure their manuscript meets the journal's standards for clarity, consistency, and scientific rigor before submission. Adhering to these guidelines helps streamline the review process and ensures that submitted articles are ready for publication.

13. Plagiarism Policy

The Plagiarism Policy emphasizes the importance of originality in research and publication. All manuscripts submitted to the journal are checked for plagiarism using reliable software. Authors must ensure that their work is free from any form of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, and properly attribute all sources. Any detected instances of plagiarism will lead to immediate rejection of the manuscript and may result in the authors being banned from future submissions.

14. Licensing Policy

The Licensing Policy outlines the terms under which authors grant the journal permission to publish their work. Authors may choose between several licensing options, such as Creative Commons licenses, to determine how their work is shared and reused. This policy allows authors to retain copyright while enabling the journal to distribute and make the work publicly accessible under the chosen license.

15. Submission of Manuscript

The Submission of Manuscript Policy provides the guidelines for submitting manuscripts to the journal. Manuscripts must be submitted through the journal’s online submission system, and authors must ensure that they comply with the journal's scope, formatting guidelines, and ethical requirements. The submission process includes a preliminary review for suitability, followed by peer review and editorial decisions.

16. Check List

The Check List provides authors with a comprehensive list of requirements to ensure that their manuscript is ready for submission. The checklist includes items such as compliance with formatting guidelines, proper referencing, conflict of interest disclosures, and ethical considerations. This helps authors ensure that all necessary components are included before submission, which improves the chances of acceptance.

17. Sample Paper

The Sample Paper is provided to guide authors on the expected format and structure of their manuscripts. This template includes sections such as the title, abstract, introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion, and references. Authors can use this template as a reference to ensure that their manuscript complies with the journal’s submission standards.

18. Author’s Agreement Form

The Author’s Agreement Form is a contract between the author and the journal, confirming that the author agrees to the terms and conditions of publication. This form includes details about copyright, licensing, and ethical compliance, as well as the author’s consent for the article to be published in the journal. Authors must sign this agreement before their manuscript can be processed for publication.

19. Participant/Patient Privacy and Informed Consent

The Participant/Patient Privacy and Informed Consent Policy emphasizes the importance of safeguarding the privacy of human participants in research. Authors must ensure that informed consent is obtained from all human participants before involving them in the study. The policy also ensures that participant data is anonymized and protected in compliance with international privacy laws and ethical guidelines.

20. Copyright Policy

The Copyright Policy ensures that the intellectual property rights of authors are protected. Authors retain copyright to their published work but grant the journal a license to publish and distribute the article. The journal also ensures that proper attribution is given to authors, and the article is not reused without proper permissions or licenses. This policy maintains the integrity of the author’s work while making it freely available under open access conditions.