About This Journal

Microbes and Environments (M&E) is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal devoted to the publication of original and review articles regarding all aspects of research on microbial ecology and environmental microbiology. It is published quarterly in a printed and an electronic version by Japanese Society of Microbial Ecology (JSME), Japanese Society of Soil Microbiology (JSSM), Taiwan Society of Microbial Ecology (TSME), Japanese Society of Plant Microbe Interactions (JSPMI), and Japanese Society for Extremophiles (JSE).

M&E has an Impact Factor of 2.912 according to the 2020 Journal Citation Reports.

Articles can deal with cultured and non-cultured forms of any type of microorganism: Bacteria, archaea, fungi, yeasts, protists, algae and viruses.

Five types of papers are published:

  • Full-length Regular Papers
  • Short Communications
  • Reviews (invited)
  • Short Reviews (invited)
  • Research Highlights (invited)

The scope of M&E covers:

  • Microbial ecology in natural and engineered environments
  • Microbial degradation of xenobiotic compounds
  • Microbial processes in biogeochemical cycles
  • Microbial interactions and signaling with animals and plants
  • Interactions among microorganisms
  • Microorganisms related to public health
  • Phylogenetic and functional diversity of microbial communities
  • Genomics, metagenomics, and bioinformatics for microbiology
  • Application of microorganisms to agriculture, fishery, and industry
  • Molecular biology and biochemistry related to environmental microbiology
  • Methodology in general and environmental microbiology
  • Interdisciplinary research areas for microbial ecology (e.g., Astrobiology, and Origins of Life)
  • Taxonomic description of novel microorganisms with ecological perspective
  • Physiology and metabolisms of microorganisms
  • Evolution of genes and microorganisms
  • Genome report of microorganisms with ecological perspective
  • Life in extreme environments