International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology

The International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology is a peer-reviewed scientific journal covering research in the field of microbial systematics that was established in 1951. Its scope covers the taxonomy, nomenclature, identification, characterisation, culture preservation, phylogeny, evolution, and biodiversity of all microorganisms, including prokaryotes, yeasts and yeast-like organisms, protozoa and algae. The journal is currently published monthly by the Microbiology Society.

International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology
DisciplineMicrobiology, systematics, evolutionary biology
LanguageEnglish
Edited byMartha Trujillo
Publication details
Former name(s)
International Bulletin of Bacteriological Nomenclature and Taxonomy, International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology
History1951–present
Publisher
FrequencyMonthly
Delayed, after 12 months
2.8 (2022)
Standard abbreviations
ISO 4Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol.
Indexing
CODENISEMF5
ISSN1466-5026 (print)
1466-5034 (web)
LCCN00252051
OCLC no.807119723
Links

An official publication of the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes (ICSP) and International Union of Microbiological Societies (Bacteriology and Applied Microbiology Division),[1] the journal is the single official international forum for the publication of new species names for prokaryotes.[2][3][4] In addition to research papers, the journal also publishes the minutes of meetings of the ICSP and its various subcommittees.[3]

Background and history

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From the first identification of a bacterial species in 1872, microbial species were named according to the binomial nomenclature, based on largely subjective descriptive characteristics.[2] By the end of the 19th century, however, it was clear that this nomenclature and classification system required reform. Although several different comprehensive nomenclature systems were invented (most notably, that described in Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, first published in 1923), none gained international recognition. In 1930, a single international body, now named the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes (ICSP), was established to oversee all aspects of prokaryotic nomenclature. Work began in 1936 on drafting a Code of Bacteriological Nomenclature, the first version of which was approved in 1947.[2]

In 1950, at the 5th International Congress for Microbiology, a journal was established to disseminate the committee's conclusions to the microbiological community. It first appeared the following year under the title of International Bulletin of Bacteriological Nomenclature and Taxonomy.[2] In 1980, the ICSP published an exhaustive list of all existing bacterial species considered valid in the Approved Lists of Bacterial Names.[2] Thereafter, the committee's Code required all new names to be either published or indexed in its journal to be deemed valid.[5]

The journal was at first published quarterly by Iowa State College Press,[2] which later increased to bimonthly. In 1966, the journal was renamed the International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology.[2][6] For decades, the journal's cover quoted Dutch naturalist Otto Friedrich Müller: "the sure and definite determination (of species of bacteria) requires so much time, so much acumen of eye and judgement, so much of perseverance and patience that there is hardly anything else so difficult."[7] Between 1971 and the end of 1997, the journal was published by the American Society for Microbiology.[2][6][8]

Publication moved to the United Kingdom in 1998, the journal being taken over by the Society for General Microbiology, in conjunction with Cambridge University Press.[6] The title was changed to International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology in 2000, to reflect the broadened focus of the journal. A major redesign brought the journal into line with the three other society journals in 2003, and at the same date the printer/typesetter changed to the Charlesworth Group. The frequency increased to monthly in 2006.[6]

Role in nomenclature validation

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The journal publishes research papers establishing novel prokaryotic names, which are summarized in a notification list. Each monthly issue also contains a compilation of validated new names (the validation list) that have been previously published in other scientific journals or books.[2][3][5] Since August 2002, publications relating to new bacterial taxa and validation of publication elsewhere have both required type strains to have been deposited at two recognised public collections in different countries.[5][9]

As of 2007, the journal has officially validated around 6500 species and 1500 genera.[2] It was estimated in 2004 that over 300 new names had been published but not validated.[5]

Modern journal

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As of 2017, the editor-in-chief is Martha E. Trujillo (University of Salamanca).[1]

According to the Journal Citation Reports, the journal has a 2022 impact factor of 2.8.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b "International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology". Microbiology Society. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Stackebrandt E. (2007) Forces shaping bacterial systematics Microbe 2: 283–288 (accessed 27 September 2007)
  3. ^ a b c SGM: About International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology Archived 17 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 26 September 2007)
  4. ^ Trüper HG, Tindall BJ. The Role of the ICSP (International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes) in the Nomenclature and Taxonomy of Prokaryotes (28 November 2005) Archived 19 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 27 September 2007)
  5. ^ a b c d Euzéby JP, Tindall BJ. Valid publication of new names or new combinations: making use of the validation lists ASM News (June 2004) Archived 28 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 8 August 2011)
  6. ^ a b c d SGM: About SGM: History: A Short History of the SGM Archived 4 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 26 September 2007)
  7. ^ Cohan, Frederick M.; Perry, Elizabeth B. (15 May 2007). "A Systematics for Discovering the Fundamental Units of Bacterial Diversity". Current Biology. 17 (10): R373–R386. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2007.03.032. ISSN 0960-9822. PMID 17502094. S2CID 12321683.
  8. ^ American Society for Microbiology: Timeline of the Society Archived 28 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 8 August 2011)
  9. ^ International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology: Instructions for authors Archived 17 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 27 September 2007)
  10. ^ "International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology". 2022Journal Citation Reports. Web of Science (Science ed.). Clarivate Analytics. 2023.
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