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Frontiers in Microbiology is a major peer-reviewed open-access journal covering fundamental, clinical, and applied microbial sciences. Launched in 2010 by Frontiers Media SA, the journal publishes research across bacteriology, virology, mycology, microbiome dynamics, and microbial biotechnology. Researchers evaluating where to submit original manuscripts or assessing published articles require verified clarity on the journal’s editorial structure, Article Processing Charges (APCs), peer review workflows, and indexing status.
What It Is
Frontiers in Microbiology is a gold open-access journal dedicated to all branches of microbial science. Published by Frontiers Media SA from Lausanne, Switzerland, the journal carries online ISSN 1664-302X and National Library of Medicine (NLM) ID 101548977, under the catalog abbreviation Front Microbiol.
Articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (CC BY 4.0). This licensing permits unrestricted sharing, distribution, and adaptation, provided the original authors and the source are cited.
Bibliographic visibility includes major academic databases:
- Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE): Maintained by Clarivate within the Web of Science Core Collection, placing the journal in the first quartile (Q1) for microbiology.
- Scopus: Fully indexed by Elsevier with ongoing citation tracking.
- PubMed Central (PMC): All peer-reviewed articles are archived directly in PMC for biomedical retrieval.
- Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ): Registered since 2010 for adherence to open-access standards.
- NLM Catalog Status: Cataloged by the U.S. National Library of Medicine with a formal note indicating that articles are archived in PMC rather than directly indexed for MEDLINE.
Who Runs It and What It Covers
Editorial governance is shared between professional publishing staff at Frontiers Media SA and an external academic board. Field Chief Editor Paul D. Cotter (Teagasc Food Research Centre and APC Microbiome Ireland) oversees strategic direction and editorial policies.
18 Specialty Sections
Peer review is organized into 18 specialized sections led by Specialty Chief Editors, supported by Associate Editors and Review Editors:
- Ancient DNA and Forensic Microbiology: Historical genetics and paleomicrobiology.
- Antimicrobials, Resistance and Chemotherapy: Resistance mechanisms and antimicrobial agents.
- Aquatic Microbiology: Freshwater, estuarine, and marine microbial systems.
- Biology of Archaea: Physiology, evolution, and genetics of archaea.
- Extreme Microbiology: Extremophilic organisms and survival adaptations.
- Food Microbiology: Food safety, fermentation, and foodborne pathogens.
- Infectious Agents and Disease: Pathogenicity and host-microbe interactions.
- Microbe and Virus Interactions with Plants: Phytopathology and plant microbiomes.
- Microbial Symbioses: Mutualistic, commensal, and parasitic associations.
- Microbiological Chemistry and Geomicrobiology: Biogeochemical cycles and mineral transformations.
- Microbiome Data Science: Computational algorithms and metagenomics pipelines.
- Microbiotechnology: Industrial biotechnology and synthetic microbiology.
- Microorganisms in Vertebrate Digestive Systems: Gastrointestinal microbiomes and host health.
- Phage Biology: Bacteriophage genomics and therapeutic phage applications.
- Physiology and Metabolism of Microorganisms: Metabolic pathways and cellular energetics.
- Systems Microbiology: Community dynamics and network biology.
- Terrestrial Microbiology: Soil ecology and rhizosphere dynamics.
- Virology: Viral replication, diagnostics, and emerging viruses.
The journal also organizes Research Topics, which are guest-edited thematic collections that unite papers around emerging microbial topics.
Article Processing Charges and Fee Tiers
Because the journal levies no subscription fees, publication is funded through Article Processing Charges (APCs) tiered by article type:
- Type A Articles (CHF 3,150): Original Research, Systematic Reviews, Methods, Reviews, Hypothesis and Theory, and Technology and Code.
- Type B Articles (CHF 2,500): Mini Reviews, Perspectives, and Opinions.
- Type C Articles: Editorials, Commentaries, and Corrections, published free of charge or at reduced rates.
Institutional open-access partnerships frequently cover or discount these fees. Authors without institutional support may apply for fee waivers based on World Bank country income criteria. Researchers exploring institutional support options can review policies in our guide on open-access publishing funds.
How to Search or Use It
The platform provides dedicated search, filtering, and author submission tools:
- Accessing the Journal Portal: Visit
frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology. The header contains search tools, section links, and editorial listings. The user sign-in portal is located via the profile icon in the top right header. - Browsing Sections and Research Topics: Click the “Sections” menu to filter articles by specialty discipline, or select “Research Topics” to view active calls for papers.
- Filtering Published Articles: Enter keywords, authors, or DOIs into the primary search bar. Refine results using filters for publication date range, specialty section, and article type.
- Accessing Full-Text Literature and Metrics: Open any article to read the full HTML text or download unrestricted PDF and EPUB files. Article-level metrics include views, downloads, and citations via Frontiers Loop.
- Initiating Manuscript Submission: Select “Submit your research” on the journal homepage. Confirm compliance with author guidelines for figures, data availability, and formatting. Choose the corresponding specialty section and recommend handling editors.
- Participating in Collaborative Peer Review: After initial checks and independent review reports, authors and reviewers communicate directly in the interactive Collaborative Review Forum. Submissions may also participate in cascading peer review across Frontiers titles if suggested by editors.
- Production and Reviewer Attribution: Following editorial approval, accepted articles are published with the handling editor and reviewers publicly credited on the final article.
Strengths and Limits
Strengths
- Broad Accessibility: CC BY 4.0 licensing ensures unrestricted global distribution without subscription barriers.
- Collaborative Review: Direct interaction in the review forum improves communication, and naming reviewers on published papers adds accountability.
- Comprehensive Scope: The 18 specialty sections offer focused subject-matter evaluation alongside interdisciplinary reach.
- Verified Indexing: Inclusion in SCIE (Q1), Scopus, and PMC supports citation tracking and funder compliance.
Limits
- APC Costs: Standard Type A charges of CHF 3,150 represent a significant expense for researchers without institutional agreements or grant support.
- Publication Volume: High annual publishing volume requires readers to evaluate study methodologies individually.
- NLM Indexing Distinction: Articles are archived in PubMed Central rather than indexed in MEDLINE, which may be relevant for specific institutional evaluations.
Alternatives
Researchers evaluating microbiology publishing venues can compare Frontiers in Microbiology with alternative options:
| Journal | Publisher | Access Model | Editorial Scope | Standard APC | Key Indexing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frontiers in Microbiology | Frontiers Media SA | Gold Open Access (CC BY) | Broad microbiology across 18 sections | CHF 3,150 | SCIE (Q1), Scopus, PMC, DOAJ |
| Microbiology Spectrum | American Society for Microbiology (ASM) | Gold Open Access (CC BY) | Applied, basic, and clinical microbiology | $3,650 (non-member) | SCIE, Scopus, PMC, DOAJ |
| PLOS ONE | Public Library of Science | Gold Open Access (CC BY) | Multidisciplinary research including microbiology | $2,500 | SCIE, Scopus, MEDLINE, PMC, DOAJ |
| PLOS Computational Biology | PLOS / ISCB | Gold Open Access (CC BY) | Computational and systems microbiology | $3,250 | SCIE, Scopus, MEDLINE, PMC, DOAJ |
| Nature Microbiology | Springer Nature | Transformative / Hybrid | High-impact fundamental and applied microbiology | €10,290 / Subscription | SCIE, Scopus, MEDLINE, PMC |
For additional context on open-access publishing models, consult our overview of the Public Library of Science (PLOS) platform and workflows in PLOS Computational Biology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Frontiers in Microbiology indexed in PubMed and MEDLINE?
Frontiers in Microbiology articles are deposited directly into PubMed Central (PMC) and are searchable in PubMed. However, the U.S. National Library of Medicine Catalog (NLM ID: 101548977) notes that the journal is not currently indexed for MEDLINE.
What is the Article Processing Charge (APC) for Frontiers in Microbiology?
APCs are tiered by article type: Type A articles (Original Research, Systematic Reviews, Methods, and Reviews) are CHF 3,150; Type B articles (Mini Reviews, Perspectives, and Opinions) are CHF 2,500; Type C articles are free or reduced. Institutional memberships and World Bank-based waivers can reduce or cover these fees.
How does the Frontiers collaborative peer review process work?
The process begins with an independent review phase where external reviewers submit standardized assessments. Authors and reviewers then enter an interactive review forum to address comments collaboratively. When an article is accepted, the handling editor and reviewers are named on the final publication.
Who publishes Frontiers in Microbiology and where is it based?
Frontiers in Microbiology is published by Frontiers Media SA, an open-access academic publisher established in 2007 and headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland.
What Creative Commons license does the journal use?
All articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (CC BY 4.0). Authors retain copyright, and anyone may read, download, or reuse the work with attribution.
Sources
- Frontiers Media SA. “Frontiers in Microbiology: About.” Accessed November 7, 2026.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology - Frontiers Media SA. “Frontiers in Microbiology: Publishing Fees.” Accessed November 7, 2026.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/publishing-fees - Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). “Frontiers in Microbiology (ISSN 1664-302X).” Accessed November 7, 2026.
https://doaj.org/toc/1664-302X - U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM). “NLM Catalog: Frontiers in Microbiology (NLM ID: 101548977).” Accessed November 7, 2026.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nlmcatalog/101548977
