Peer-review is the system used to assess the quality of a manuscript before it is published. Independent researchers in the relevant research area assess submitted manuscripts for originality, validity and significance to help Editor-in-Chief determine whether the manuscript should be published in their journal. You can read more about the peer-review process here.

1. Editorial Office Assessment

Criteria are: (1) manuscript meets the scope of the journal, (2) manuscript meets the preparation guidelines, and (3) manuscript has not been published or submitted elsewhere.

2. Invitation to Reviewers

Microbiology China operates a single-blind peer-review system, where the reviewers are aware of the names and affiliations of the authors, but the reviewer reports provided to authors are anonymous. The benefit of single-blind peer review is that it is the traditional model of peer review that many reviewers are comfortable with, and it facilitates a dispassionate critique of a manuscript.

Submitted manuscripts will generally be reviewed by two or more experts who will be asked to evaluate whether the manuscript is scientifically sound and coherent, whether it duplicates already published work, and whether or not the manuscript is sufficiently clear for publication.

3. Appraisal by the Editor-in-Chief

Editor-in-Chief is the final authority on all editorial decisions.