About the Journal

Aims and Scope

The Journal of Microbial Impact (JoMI) is an international, peer-reviewed journal committed to advancing research and development in fields shaped by microbial activity. JoMI publishes high-quality, innovative, and quantitative research that investigates the roles of microorganisms across a wide range of natural and built environments, as well as their applications in addressing technical and societal challenges.

Areas of Interest Include (but are not limited to):

• Biodeterioration
• Microbial-induced corrosion
• Negative microbial impacts in food and agriculture
• Microbial responses to inhibitory substances
• Bioprospecting of microbial resources
• Microbial pesticides
• Biosurfactant applications
• Bioremediation strategies
• Microbial production of biogas and biofuels
• Other related microbial impact studies

Editorial Policies

Authorship Policy

Definition of Authorship

Authorship implies significant intellectual contribution to a published work. In accordance with international guidelines, particularly those of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), JoMI considers an individual to qualify for authorship if they have made substantial contributions to:

·         The conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data

·         Drafting the manuscript or revising it critically for important intellectual content

·         Final approval of the version to be published

·         Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work, ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved

All four criteria must be met to qualify for authorship.

Order of Authors

The order of authors should reflect the relative contributions of each individual to the research and writing process. It is the responsibility of the authors to agree upon the sequence before submission. JoMI does not intervene in authorship order disputes and expects such matters to be resolved internally by the authors and their institutions.

Corresponding Author

The corresponding author is responsible for:

Managing all communication with the journal during submission, peer review and publication

Ensuring that all listed authors have approved the final version of the manuscript

Handling post-publication correspondence and data requests

Only one corresponding author should be designated per manuscript.

Changes to Authorship

Requests to add, remove, or rearrange authors after submission must be made in writing to the editorial office. Such requests must include:

A clear reason for the change

Written confirmation from all authors (including the individual being added or removed) agreeing to the change

Changes will not be permitted after acceptance unless under exceptional circumstances.

Contributors Who Do Not Qualify for Authorship

Individuals who contributed to the work but do not meet the criteria for authorship (e.g., those who provided technical support, writing assistance, or general supervision) should be acknowledged in the Acknowledgements section, with their permission.

Authorship Misconduct

JoMI takes authorship ethics seriously. Any instance of ghost authorship, guest authorship, or misrepresentation will be investigated in accordance with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines. Proven misconduct may result in rejection, retraction, or notification to the authors’ institutions.

Competing Interests Policy

Definition of Competing Interests

A competing interest, also known as a conflict of interest, occurs when an individual’s personal, financial, or professional affiliations could inappropriately influence (or be perceived to influence) their judgement, objectivity, or integrity in the publication process.

Competing interests may be:

·         Financial: e.g. funding, employment, stock ownership, paid consultancy, or patent applications

·         Non-financial: e.g. personal relationships, academic rivalry, political or religious beliefs, or institutional affiliations

JoMI requires full transparency to maintain trust in the scientific process and ensure the credibility of published work.

Disclosure Requirements

All authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any actual or potential competing interests relevant to the submitted work.

For Authors:

·         A declaration of competing interests must be included in the manuscript under a clearly labelled section titled “Competing Interests”.

·         If there are no conflicts to declare, authors must state: “The authors declare no competing interests.”

For Reviewers:

·         Reviewers must disclose any conflicts that could affect their impartiality (e.g. recent collaboration with the authors, institutional ties).

·         If a conflict exists, reviewers should decline the invitation to review.

For Editors:

·         Editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists.

Funding Transparency

Authors must clearly state all sources of funding for the research, including grant numbers and the role of the funder in study design, data collection, analysis, or publication.

Undisclosed Conflicts

Failure to disclose competing interests may result in:

·         Rejection or retraction of the manuscript

·         Notification to the authors’ affiliated institutions

·         Public correction or editorial expression of concern

JoMI follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in handling such cases.

Research Ethics Policy

The Journal of Microbial Impact (JoMI) is committed to upholding the highest standards of research integrity and ethical conduct. All research submitted for publication must comply with internationally recognised ethical guidelines to ensure the protection of human and animal subjects, the environment, and the scientific record.

Ethical Approval for Human and Animal Research

·         Human Participants: Research involving human subjects must have received prior approval from an appropriate ethics committee or institutional review board (IRB). Authors must include a statement in the manuscript confirming ethical approval and informed consent from participants.

·         Animal Research: Studies involving animals must adhere to institutional and national guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals. Authors must provide details of ethical approval and efforts to minimise animal suffering.

·         Field Studies: Research conducted in natural environments must comply with local regulations and obtain necessary permits or approvals.

Informed Consent

·         Authors must confirm that informed consent was obtained from all human participants involved in the study.

·         For studies involving minors or vulnerable populations, consent must be obtained from legal guardians or authorised representatives.

·         Identifiable personal data (e.g. photographs, case details) must not be published without explicit written consent.

Data Integrity and Fabrication

·  Authors are expected to present data honestly and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate manipulation.

·      Raw data should be retained and made available upon request for editorial or peer review purposes.

·  Any form of data or image manipulation that misrepresents results is considered unethical and may result in rejection or retraction.

Dual Submission and Redundant Publication

· Manuscripts must not be submitted to more than one journal simultaneously.

·   Redundant or duplicate publication (i.e. publishing the same data or findings in multiple journals) is strictly prohibited.

Misconduct and Corrections

·    JoMI follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in handling allegations of research misconduct.

· In cases of proven misconduct, the journal may issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern, and notify the authors’ institutions.

Ethical Responsibilities of Editors and Reviewers

·     Editors and reviewers must treat all manuscripts confidentially and disclose any conflicts of interest.

· They must evaluate submissions solely on academic merit, without discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, or institutional affiliation.

Reporting Standards and Availability of Data, Materials, Code, and Protocols

The Journal of Microbial Impact (JoMI) is committed to promoting transparency, reproducibility, and integrity in scientific research. Authors are expected to adhere to recognised reporting standards and ensure that sufficient information is provided to allow others to replicate and build upon their work.

Reporting Standards

Authors must follow appropriate reporting guidelines relevant to their study design and discipline. These may include, but are not limited to:

·         CONSORT for randomised controlled trials

·         PRISMA for systematic reviews and meta-analyses

·         STROBE for observational studies

·         ARRIVE for animal research

·         MIAME for microarray experiments

A completed checklist should be submitted where applicable, and the use of a reporting guideline should be stated in the manuscript.

Data Availability and FAIR Principles

The Journal of Microbial Impact (JoMI) is committed to promoting transparency, reproducibility, and responsible data sharing in scientific research. In line with international best practices, JoMI encourages authors to make their data openly available and to adhere to the FAIR principles, ensuring that data are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable.

Data Availability Statement

All submitted manuscripts must include a Data Availability Statement that clearly outlines where and how the data supporting the findings can be accessed. This statement should appear in a dedicated section of the manuscript and must specify:

·         Whether the data are publicly available

·         The name of the repository or database

·         Any access restrictions or conditions

·         A persistent identifier (e.g. DOI or accession number)

Example: > “The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available in the Zenodo repository, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1234567.”

If data cannot be shared due to ethical, legal, or confidentiality constraints, authors must provide a clear justification.

FAIR Data Principles

JoMI encourages authors to manage and share their data in accordance with the FAIR principles:

Principle	Description
Findable	Data should be assigned a persistent identifier (e.g. DOI) and described with rich metadata to enable discovery.
Accessible	Data should be retrievable using standard protocols, with clear access conditions (open or restricted).
Interoperable	Data should use standard formats, vocabularies, and ontologies to allow integration with other datasets.
Reusable	Data should be well-documented and licensed to permit reuse by others, with clear provenance and usage terms.

Authors are encouraged to deposit data in trusted, discipline-specific or general-purpose repositories that support FAIR principles, such as:

·         Zenodo

·         Figshare

·         Dryad

·         NCBI GenBank

·         EMBL-EBI

·         Mendeley Data

Supplementary Data and Materials

Where appropriate, authors may also submit supplementary datasets, tables, figures, or code alongside their manuscript. These materials will be published with the article and must be clearly referenced in the main text.

Ethical and Legal Considerations

Authors must ensure that:

·         Data sharing complies with ethical approvals and participant consent

·         Personal or sensitive data are anonymised or de-identified

·         Data sharing does not breach institutional, legal, or contractual obligations

Materials and Reagents

Authors should provide sufficient detail on materials, reagents, and experimental conditions to enable replication. Where unique or proprietary materials were used, authors must state how these can be obtained, or provide a rationale if access is restricted.

Code and Software

·         Authors using custom code, scripts, or software in their analysis must make these resources openly available, preferably via platforms such as GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket.

·         A link to the repository and a brief description of the code should be included in the manuscript.

·         If the code is not publicly available, authors must explain why.

Protocols

·     Detailed experimental protocols should be included in the Methods section or provided as supplementary material.

·    Authors are encouraged to deposit protocols in open-access repositories such as protocols.io and include the DOI in the manuscript.

Supplementary Information

Supplementary files (e.g. datasets, figures, tables, videos) should be submitted alongside the manuscript and clearly referenced within the text. These materials will be published online with the article.

Editorial Review and Compliance

The editorial team reserves the right to request access to data, materials, or code during the review process. Failure to comply with these standards may delay publication or result in rejection.

Image Integrity and Standards

The Journal of Microbial Impact (JoMI) upholds the highest standards of image integrity to ensure that all visual data presented in published articles accurately reflect the original research findings. Authors are expected to prepare and present images in a manner that is honest, transparent, and free from manipulation that could mislead readers or distort scientific interpretation.

Acceptable Image Adjustments

Authors may make limited adjustments to images for clarity and presentation, provided these do not alter the original data or misrepresent the results. Acceptable modifications include:

·         Uniform adjustments to brightness, contrast, or colour balance across the entire image

·         Cropping to improve clarity or focus, provided it does not remove relevant data

·         Labelling or annotation for explanatory purposes, clearly indicated in the figure legend

All adjustments must be applied consistently and described in the figure legend if they affect interpretation.

Unacceptable Manipulations

The following practices are considered unethical and are strictly prohibited:

·     Selective enhancement, deletion, or obscuring of features within an image

·  Splicing or combining images from different experiments without clear demarcation and explanation

·  Duplication of images across multiple figures or publications without appropriate citation or disclosure

·         Use of filters or software tools that distort the original data

Any attempt to manipulate images in a way that could mislead readers will be treated as a serious breach of research integrity.

Image Submission Guidelines

·     Images must be submitted in high-resolution formats (e.g. TIFF, JPEG, PNG) suitable for publication

·   Microscopy images should include scale bars and indicate magnification where appropriate

·    Composite images must clearly indicate the boundaries between panels and include a description of each component

·         Original, unprocessed image files may be requested by the editorial office during peer review or post-publication checks

Image Copyright and Permissions

Authors must ensure they have the legal right to use and reproduce all images included in their manuscript. If images are reproduced from previously published work, appropriate permissions must be obtained and acknowledged.

Editorial Oversight

All submitted images are subject to editorial scrutiny. The editorial team may use image forensics tools to detect manipulation. If concerns arise regarding image integrity, authors may be asked to provide original data or explanations. Proven cases of image manipulation may result in rejection, retraction, or notification to the authors’ institutions.

Plagiarism and Duplicate Publication Policy

The Journal of Microbial Impact (JoMI) maintains a strict policy against plagiarism and duplicate publication. Upholding academic integrity is fundamental to our mission, and all authors are expected to submit original work that accurately reflects their own research and ideas.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person’s work, ideas, data, or words as one’s own without proper attribution. This includes, but is not limited to:

·  Copying text, figures, or tables from previously published work without citation

· Paraphrasing substantial portions of another’s work without acknowledgement

·         Using data or results from another study without permission or credit

·         Submitting work that has been translated from another language without disclosure

JoMI considers all forms of plagiarism—whether deliberate or unintentional—as serious breaches of publication ethics.

Plagiarism Screening

All submitted manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software.

·  A similarity index above 15% (excluding references and commonly used phrases) may lead to further investigation.

·  Manuscripts with significant overlap will be returned to the authors for revision or rejected outright.

·       In severe cases, the journal may notify the authors’ affiliated institutions.

Duplicate and Redundant Publication

Duplicate publication refers to the submission or publication of the same or substantially similar work in more than one journal without proper disclosure. This includes:

·       Republishing the same article in different journals

·  Submitting a manuscript that overlaps significantly with previously published work

·      Publishing multiple papers with minor variations from the same dataset (“salami slicing”)

Authors must clearly disclose if the manuscript is an extended version of a previously published conference paper or preprint, and cite the original source accordingly.

Author Responsibilities

·    Authors must ensure that all sources are properly cited and that any reused material is clearly identified and attributed.

·   If figures, tables, or text are reproduced from other works, appropriate permissions must be obtained and acknowledged.

·      Authors must declare any prior dissemination of the work (e.g. preprints, theses, or conference abstracts) at the time of submission.

Consequences of Misconduct

Confirmed cases of plagiarism or duplicate publication may result in:

·         Rejection or withdrawal of the manuscript

·         Retraction of the published article

·         Notification to the authors’ institutions or funding bodies

·         A ban on future submissions to the journal

JoMI follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in handling such cases.

Corrections, Retractions, and Matters Arising

The Journal of Microbial Impact (JoMI) is committed to maintaining the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly record. We recognise that errors, concerns, or ethical issues may occasionally arise after publication. This policy outlines how JoMI handles post-publication updates, including corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern.

Corrections

Corrections are issued when a published article contains an error that affects its accuracy but does not compromise the overall validity of the findings. These may include:

·         Minor errors in data, figures, or text

·         Author name misspellings or affiliation updates

·         Omissions in acknowledgements or funding statements

Corrections are published as a separate notice, linked to the original article, and clearly labelled as a “Correction”.

Retractions

A retraction is issued when a published article is found to contain serious flaws or misconduct that invalidate its findings. Grounds for retraction include:

·         Fabrication or falsification of data

·         Plagiarism or duplicate publication

·         Unethical research practices

·         Major errors that undermine the conclusions

Retractions are published as a formal notice, clearly stating the reason for retraction, and linked to the original article, which remains accessible but marked as retracted. JoMI follows the retraction guidelines set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Expressions of Concern

An expression of concern may be issued when:

·         There is inconclusive evidence of misconduct

·         An investigation is ongoing

·   There are concerns about the integrity of the article, but insufficient information to warrant a retraction

This notice alerts readers to potential issues while further clarification is sought.

Matters Arising

JoMI welcomes scholarly dialogue and encourages readers to raise concerns or questions about published content. Matters arising may include:

·         Technical clarifications

·         Alternative interpretations

·         Methodological critiques

Such correspondence may be published as a Letter to the Editor or Commentary, subject to editorial and peer review. Authors of the original article will be given an opportunity to respond.

Editorial Responsibility

All post-publication updates are handled by the editorial team in consultation with the authors, reviewers, and, where necessary, the authors’ institutions. JoMI is committed to acting swiftly and transparently in all such matters.

Peer Review Policy

The Journal of Microbial Impact (JoMI) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of scholarly publishing through a rigorous and transparent peer review process. Peer review is central to ensuring the quality, integrity, and credibility of the research we publish. All submitted manuscripts undergo a double-blind peer review, where both the reviewers and authors remain anonymous to one another.

Type of Peer Review

JoMI operates a double-blind peer review system, in which:

·         Reviewers do not know the identity of the authors

·         Authors do not know the identity of the reviewers

This approach helps to minimise bias and ensures that manuscripts are evaluated solely on their academic merit.

Editorial Workflow of TABS Press

1.      Manuscript Submission Authors submit their manuscript via the online submission portal or through the designated editorial email.

2.      Initial Screening The editorial assistant conducts a preliminary check to ensure the manuscript complies with ethical standards and the journal’s formatting and submission guidelines.

3.      Internal Editorial Review The manuscript is reviewed by the Board of Editors (BoE) to assess its suitability for peer review.

4.      Editorial Decision for Peer Review If not rejected at this stage, the manuscript is forwarded to external reviewers by the Associate Editor.

5.      External Peer Review Independent reviewers evaluate the manuscript and provide recommendations, which may include suggestions for revision.

6.      Author Revisions Authors respond to the reviewers’ comments and submit a revised version of the manuscript.

7.      Evaluation of Revised Manuscript The revised manuscript is reviewed by the Associate Editor to confirm whether the revisions meet the required standards.

8.      Final Acceptance Once approved, the manuscript is formally accepted, and the authors are notified.

9.      Article Processing Charge (APC) Authors pay the applicable APC, and payment is confirmed by the editorial office.

10.  Scientific and Copy Editing The manuscript undergoes detailed scientific editing and copyediting to ensure clarity, consistency, and accuracy.

11.  Typesetting and Layout The article is typeset and formatted for both online and print publication.

12.  Galley Proof Review A galley proof is sent to the authors for final proofreading and approval.

13.  Author Approval Authors review and approve the final version for publication.

14.  Online Publication The final version of record (FiVoR) is published online and made publicly accessible.

15.  Indexing and Archiving Published articles are submitted to relevant indexing databases, where applicable.

16.  The review workflow is summarized with the diagram below:

Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers are expected to:

·         Provide objective, constructive, and timely feedback

·    Maintain confidentiality and not share or use manuscript content for personal gain

·         Declare any conflicts of interest that may affect their impartiality

·         Notify the editor if they feel unqualified to review a particular manuscript

Reviewers are recognised for their contributions and may receive certificates of acknowledgement upon request.

Author Responsibilities

Authors are expected to:

·  Submit original, well-prepared manuscripts that comply with JoMI’s guidelines

·         Respond to reviewer comments respectfully and thoroughly

·         Avoid any attempt to identify or contact reviewers

·         Disclose any potential conflicts of interest

Editorial Oversight

The editorial team ensures that:

·         The review process is fair, unbiased, and timely

·         Reviewer comments are constructive and appropriate

·         Ethical concerns are addressed in accordance with COPE guidelines

·         Appeals and complaints are handled transparently

Appeals and Complaints

Authors who disagree with a decision may submit a formal appeal, providing a detailed justification. Appeals are reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief or an independent editorial board member. The decision following an appeal is final.

Becoming a Reviewer

Researchers with relevant expertise are welcome to join JoMI’s reviewer community. Interested individuals may apply by sending their CV and areas of specialisation to: submit@tabsjournals.com

Confidentiality Policy

The Journal of Microbial Impact (JoMI) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality throughout the editorial and peer review process. All parties involved, authors, reviewers, editors, and editorial staff, are expected to uphold strict confidentiality to protect the integrity of the scholarly publishing process and the rights of contributors.

Confidentiality of Submitted Manuscripts

·         All manuscripts submitted to JoMI are treated as confidential documents.

·     They must not be shared, discussed, or disclosed to anyone outside the editorial team and assigned reviewers, unless explicit permission is granted by the Editor-in-Chief.

·       Manuscripts may only be used for the purpose of peer review and editorial evaluation.

Reviewer Confidentiality

Reviewers are bound by the following confidentiality obligations:

·   They must not disclose, discuss, or use any part of the manuscript or its supplementary materials for personal or professional gain.

·        They must not attempt to identify or contact the authors.

·         If a reviewer wishes to consult a colleague for a second opinion, they must first obtain permission from the editorial office.

·   Reviewers must destroy or delete all copies of the manuscript after completing their review.

Author Confidentiality

·    Authors must not attempt to identify or contact reviewers during or after the review process.

·     All correspondence with the journal must be treated as confidential and not shared publicly.

·   If a manuscript is rejected or withdrawn, authors may not use reviewer comments or editorial correspondence in any public forum without permission.

Editorial Confidentiality

Editors and editorial staff are responsible for:

·  Ensuring that all manuscript-related information is kept confidential and only shared with individuals directly involved in the editorial process

·       Not disclosing the identity of reviewers to authors or vice versa

·       Not using any unpublished material from a submitted manuscript for their own research or benefit

Breaches of Confidentiality

Any breach of confidentiality, intentional or otherwise, will be taken seriously and may result in:

·         Removal of the reviewer or editor from the journal’s database

·         Rejection or retraction of the manuscript

·         Notification to the individual’s institution or funding body

·         Further action in accordance with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines

Exceptions

Confidentiality may be waived under the following circumstances:

·      With the explicit written consent of all parties involved

·    If required by law or in response to a formal investigation into research misconduct

·     When publishing corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern, where transparency is necessary to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record

Acknowledgements Policy

The Journal of Microbial Impact (JoMI) encourages authors to formally acknowledge all individuals, institutions, and organisations that contributed to the research but do not meet the criteria for authorship. Acknowledgements provide transparency, give credit where it is due, and help readers understand the broader context in which the research was conducted.

Purpose of Acknowledgements

The Acknowledgements section is intended to:

·    Recognise individuals who provided technical assistance, writing support, or general guidance

·   Credit institutions or organisations that offered facilities, equipment, or access to data

·         Disclose sources of funding or sponsorship

·         Acknowledge any third-party contributions that supported the research

Who Should Be Acknowledged?

Authors may acknowledge:

·         Laboratory technicians, research assistants, or administrative staff

·         Colleagues who provided feedback or informal peer review

·         Individuals who assisted with data collection, analysis, or translation

·         Professional writers or editors who contributed to manuscript preparation

·         Institutions or agencies that provided access to research sites or materials

·         Funding bodies, grant providers, or scholarship programmes

All individuals named in the Acknowledgements must have given their consent to be mentioned.

Funding Acknowledgement

Authors must clearly state all sources of financial support for the research, including:

·         Grant numbers and funding agency names

·         Institutional or departmental funding

·      Any role the funder played in study design, data collection, analysis, or publication

Example: > “This work was supported by the Nigerian Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Grant No. TETF/DR&D/CE/NRF/STI/2024/01.”

If no funding was received, authors should state: > “The authors received no specific funding for this work.”

Conflict of Interest and Ethical Contributions

If individuals contributed to the research in a way that could be perceived as a conflict of interest (e.g. industry consultants, sponsors), this should be disclosed either in the Acknowledgements or in the Competing Interests section.

Format and Placement

·  The Acknowledgements section should appear before the References section in the manuscript.

·       It should be concise, written in full sentences, and free from promotional language.

·         Titles and institutional affiliations may be included where relevant.

Example: > “The authors wish to thank Dr Amina Yusuf (Department of Microbiology, University of Lagos) for her valuable insights during the experimental design phase.”

Preprints and Conference Proceedings Policy

The Journal of Microbial Impact (JoMI) recognises the value of early research dissemination and supports responsible sharing of scientific findings through preprints and conference proceedings. This policy outlines the journal’s position on the submission, citation, and publication of work that has previously appeared in these formats.

Preprints

Definition

A preprint is a version of a scholarly manuscript that is made publicly available on a preprint server prior to formal peer review and publication in a journal.

JoMI’s Position

JoMI welcomes submissions of manuscripts that have previously been posted as preprints, provided that:

·       The preprint is clearly cited and disclosed at the time of submission

·  The manuscript has not been peer-reviewed or formally published elsewhere

·   The content of the preprint has not been altered in a way that misrepresents the original findings

Author Responsibilities

·  Authors must include a statement in the cover letter and manuscript indicating the preprint’s DOI or URL

·   The preprint must be hosted on a recognised, non-commercial preprint server (e.g. bioRxiv, medRxiv, arXiv)

·    Upon publication in JoMI, authors are encouraged to update the preprint record with a citation and link to the final published version

Editorial Considerations

·      Preprints will not be considered prior publication

·     Reviewers will be informed if a preprint version exists, but the peer review will be conducted independently

·    JoMI reserves the right to reject a manuscript if the preprint has received public criticism that raises concerns about its validity or ethics

Conference Proceedings

Definition

Conference proceedings refer to papers or abstracts presented at academic conferences, symposia, or workshops, which may be published in print or online as part of the event’s official record.

JoMI’s Position

JoMI accepts submissions that are extended or revised versions of work previously presented at conferences, provided that:

·  The original conference version is cited and disclosed at the time of submission

·     The submitted manuscript contains substantial new content, analysis, or interpretation

·         The conference version has not been published in a peer-reviewed journal

Author Responsibilities

·      Authors must clearly state in the cover letter and manuscript that the work is based on a conference presentation

· The manuscript must include a citation to the original abstract or proceedings paper, if published

·   Authors must ensure that they hold the rights to republish the content, especially if the proceedings were published by another entity

Citation of Preprints and Proceedings

·    Authors may cite preprints and conference proceedings in their reference lists, provided they are clearly labelled as such

·         Preprints should include the DOI or permanent URL

·    Conference papers should include the name, date, and location of the event, and the proceedings title if available

Example (Preprint): > Smith, J. & Okoro, T. (2024). Microbial interactions in urban soils. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.01.15.123456

Example (Conference): > Ahmed, L. (2023). Bioremediation potential of indigenous bacteria. Presented at the 12th African Microbiology Congress, Accra, Ghana.

Ethical Considerations

·     Authors must not submit identical or near-identical versions of the same work to multiple journals or conferences simultaneously

·  Any concerns about duplicate publication or self-plagiarism will be investigated in accordance with COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines

·      JoMI reserves the right to reject submissions that do not meet the journal’s originality and ethical standards

Press and Embargo Policies

The Journal of Microbial Impact (JoMI) recognises the importance of responsible science communication and supports media engagement that accurately represents published research. This policy outlines the journal’s approach to press releases, media coverage, and embargoes to ensure fair and coordinated dissemination of scientific findings.

Press Releases and Media Coverage

JoMI encourages authors and institutions to promote their published work through press releases, interviews, and media outreach. To maintain accuracy and integrity:

·     Press releases must reflect the content of the final, peer-reviewed version of the article.

·       Authors are encouraged to coordinate with their institutional press offices and the JoMI editorial team when preparing media materials.

·       Any quotes or summaries should avoid exaggeration or misrepresentation of the findings.

JoMI may also issue its own press releases for selected articles of public interest or scientific significance.

Embargo Policy

An embargo is a restriction placed on the public release of information until a specified date and time. JoMI uses embargoes to ensure that all stakeholders, authors, journalists, and the public, have equal and fair access to new research.

Embargo Conditions:

·    All accepted articles are subject to an embargo until the official date and time of online publication.

·      Journalists and media outlets may receive advance access to embargoed content under strict confidentiality.

·     Authors must not publicly discuss or promote their accepted manuscript (e.g. via press releases, blogs, or social media) before the embargo lifts.

Violating the embargo may result in withdrawal of media access or delay in publication.

Collaboration with Journalists

JoMI welcomes collaboration with science journalists and media professionals. Journalists may request:

·         Advance copies of forthcoming articles under embargo

·         Interviews with authors or editorial board members

·         Clarification of scientific content for accurate reporting

All media enquiries should be directed to the editorial office. Journalists granted early access must agree to respect the embargo and cite JoMI as the source of the research.

Social Media and Public Commentary

Authors are encouraged to share their published work on social media platforms, academic networks, and personal websites, after the embargo has lifted. Posts should:

·         Link to the final published version of the article

·         Accurately reflect the findings and avoid sensationalism

·         Acknowledge JoMI as the publishing journal

Authors may not share full-text versions of the article unless permitted under the journal’s open access licence (CC BY-NC 4.0).

Confidentiality and Pre-Publication

To preserve the integrity of the peer review process:

·    Manuscripts under review must not be discussed publicly or shared with the media.

·     Reviewers and editors must not disclose any information about submitted or accepted manuscripts prior to publication.