Collections

In light of its recent resurgence and emergency declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Microbiology Society is bringing together research on mpox.

Mpox is a zoonotic viral infectious disease, a double-stranded DNA virus species belonging to the genus Orthopoxvirus, which includes two distinct clades: clade 1 and clade 2. Mpox infection is transmitted by close skin contacts or breathing, and results in skin lesions, flu-like symptoms and can result in fatal outcomes. Clade 1 has been historically linked to the Congo Basin while Clade 2 is associated with West Africa and caused the global outbreak that occurred from 2022 to 2023, classed at the time as public health emergency by the WHO. Mpox is classified within the genus Orthopoxvirus and is a member of the Poxviridae family, which the WHO has identified as having the potential for epidemic or pandemic outbreaks. Significant concerns arose in recent weeks due to the spread of a new outbreak linked to Clade 1b displaying increased mortality when compared to previous cases, which prompted an upped response from the WHO.

Image credit: iStock/Gilnature

Access Microbiology provides a platform to publish sound science across the entire field of microbiology. Negative results are an integral part of sound science and research integrity, adding value to the scientific literature that is often overlooked. In line with the platform’s mission, we have collated impactful negative results studies published since Access Microbiology’s launch in 2019. Science integrity consultant Elisabeth Bik provides an editorial for this collection, on the importance and value of negative data.

With ongoing debate in the scientific community about research integrity and the pressure to publish novel results, we want to highlight the high quality negative results studies published on the platform. New papers will be added to the collection as these are published.

This collection highlights Outbreak Reports published in Microbial Genomics. Outbreak reports are short-format articles that investigate the key role that genomics plays in investigating communicable disease outbreaks.

If you would like to see your work included in this collection click here for more information. Microbial Genomics is looking for novel and interesting stories describing unique applications of genomics at any stage of an outbreak.

This collection brings together original research articles, mini-reviews, and full-length reviews relating to Pseudomonas in conjunction with the International Biennial Pseudomonas Conference.

Guest edited on the occasion of the 2024 Pseudomonas Conference in Copenhagen (Denmark) by Prof Pablo Ivan Nikel, Dr Varsha Singh and Prof Lars Dietrich, the collection will not only be relevant to scientists with an interest in Pseudomonas, but also, due to the widespread use of this genus as a model for studying multiple systems, it will be of general interest to other researchers active in areas such as evolutionary biology, communication systems, genomics and biofilm research. In addition, because P. aeruginosa is a key pathogen associated with both acute and chronic infections, and particularly important in the context of cystic fibrosis and antimicrobial resistance, the collection will be of interest to clinicians and clinical researchers.

The collection was launched on the occasion of the 2019 Pseudomonas Conference in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and past guest editors are Dr Joanna Goldberg and Prof Kalai Mathee.

To highlight the vital role microbiology plays in delivering on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we have created a collection of must-read research on three critical aspects of the SDGs: antimicrobial resistance, soil health, and the circular economy.

This collection brings together reviews, mini-reviews and original research articles, relating to species historically grouped under the generic name trichomonads. The collection neatly overlaps with the 7^th International Conference on Anaerobic Protists in Auckland (August 2024), the primary conference for researchers working on trichomonads.

In addition to the strong medical and veterinary interests in studying human and farmed animal pathogens, trichomonads also represent important model systems to study the diversity and evolution of eukaryotic cells and genomes. The increased appreciation of the zoonotic potential of trichomonads should also further stimulate comparative studies across human and animal infecting trichomonads. Trichomonas species, which are broadly distributed among columbiform birds, are also important human pathogens that can contribute to chronic inflammatory conditions in the urogenital tract (vaginitis, cervicitis and urethritis) and the oral cavity (periodontitis). Dissecting the molecular and cellular basis of the damaging inflammations induced by trichomonads have highlighted the importance and complexity of the interplay between microbial eukaryotes, bacterial members of the microbiota and viruses in modulating inflammations at mucosal surfaces. Hence trichomonads represent an important resource to help dissect through comparative studies the complex role of host–microbiota interactions in humans and animals, in both health and disease.

From an environmental perspective, cases of transfers of Trichomonas from pigeons to passerines, and other birds, with dramatic passerine population decline associated with such infections, have highlighted the ecological importance of trichomonads. Based on these considerations this collection will be of great interest to medical and veterinarian clinicians, microbiologists, molecular cell biologists, evolutionary biologists, and environmental scientists/ecologists.

The collection is now open for new submissions from all researchers working in the area.

Editors: Robert P. Hirt (Newcastle University, UK) and Ivana Bilic (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria)

Status: Open for submissions 

Submission link: Journal of Medical Microbiology

Image shows SEM image illustrating Trichomonas vaginalis interacting with a yeast cell. Courtesy of Prof. Marlene Benchimol (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).

In 2020 we celebrate 75 years of the anniversary of our founding with a year of activities dedicated to demonstrating the impact of microbiologists’ past, present and future – bringing together and empowering communities that help shape the future of microbiology. We are launching new collections of digital content throughout the anniversary year. The second digital hub is 'Understanding bacteria and the challenges in microbiology', which will explore novel antimicrobial strategies, the world of biofilms and bacteria in industry.

In July 2022 the What’s New in Cryptosporidium meeting is being held in Swansea, UK, bringing together researchers across the breadth of Cryptosporidium research.

Cryptosporidium is a very common cause of gastroenteritis in the UK and one of the most important contributors to the burden of childhood diarrhoea morbidity and mortality globally. It is an organism of interest to those working in clinical, industrial, veterinary and agricultural settings and recent outbreaks have highlighted the lack of awareness of current guidance around Cryptosporidium. This one-and-a-half-day meeting will bring these strands together and feature a varied programme of renowned invited speakers and offered paper presenters, showcasing the latest research.

Following the meeting, attendees are invited to submit their research to this collection – guest edited by Angharad Davies. 

This collection will cover original research, insight reviews on topics such as the clinical impact of Cryptosporidium, a meeting report and position papers.

If you are an early career researcher, and would like to gain editorial experience – we are also happy to discuss ECM editorial roles, to observe the handling process, provide peer review reports and handle papers themselves – please contact Dalia Nikadon at [email protected].

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a cross-disciplinary issue, with ground-breaking studies currently bringing together clinicians and modellers, veterinary and soil scientists, microbiologists and anthropologists. Yet finding a home for the unique publications from this research is difficult. The Microbiology Society is providing such a home with a new pop-up journal for cross-disciplinary research on antimicrobial resistance: X-AMR.

We invite submissions in the form of research papers, mini-reviews or commentaries. For more information on X-AMR, including how to submit your article, see our FAQs page.

Included in this collection are a host of antimicrobial resistance papers already published across our portfolio. The latest X-AMR articles will appear as and when they are published. Read our Guest Editors' introductory Editorial here.