microLife
Publish your most impactful findings in the open access journal of the European Academy of Microbiology
The official journal of the European Academy of Microbiology, microLife showcases groundbreaking research across all microbial life, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, parasites, and viruses. Led by an international community of experts, the journal operates a Gold Open access model. Its focus on impact, novelty, and significance makes it a home for studies that move the field forward and open new avenues of inquiry. It provides a trusted, high-visibility platform for sharing influential discoveries and shaping the future of microbiology.
Editor-in-Chief: Prof Carmen Buchrieser, Pasteur Institute
Highlights: Focused on high-calibre, cross-disciplinary research with lasting significance | Gold Open access | Progressive publishing policies
- Why choose microLife?
- If your research the right fit?
- Recent highlights
- Quick facts
- What is the European Academy of Microbiology?
- Meet the editorial leadership
- Publish with purpose. Publish with FEMS
Why choose microLife?
✅ For microbiology of exceptional rigor and broad disciplinary relevance
Committed to research that reshapes foundational understanding and connects the full breadth of the field.
✅ Progressive publishing policies
Built on author-friendly policies with format-free submission, preprint posting, scooping protection, and recognition for co-reviewers.
✅ The journal of the European Academy of Microbiology
Supported by FEMS and the official journal of the EAM, the journal reflects a commitment to scientific excellence, rigorous peer review, and leadership within the global microbiology community.
Is your research the right fit?
microLife provides a home for research spanning the full breadth of microbiology, covering bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, parasites, and viruses.
To ensure excellence across this breadth, the journal welcomes manuscripts that:
- Report original research of the highest standard, novelty, and significance
- Speak to a broad microbiology audience beyond a narrow specialty
- Represent a major step forward
Still unsure? Get in touch to discuss your manuscript’s suitability before submission at info@fems-microbiology.org.
Recent highlights
Thematic Issue:
Viruses of Microbes
A focused look at the new era of viruses of microorganisms, from bacterial immunity and microbiome dynamics to next-generation phage therapy and molecular tools.
2025 Article Award Winner:
In vitro and in vivo selection and cost of bacteriophage resistance on natural Escherichia coli
Cardoso et al. demonstrate that phage resistance comes at a steep cost in the gut, revealing why laboratory findings alone can mislead phage therapy development.
Most read:
The opposite effects of stringent response on phage infection of Pseudomonas putida
Study revealing that the stringent response alarmone (p)ppGpp can both enhance and inhibit phage infection in Pseudomonas putida, often promoting phage replication.
Quick Facts
- Publishing model: Gold Open access
- Article types: Full-length research articles, short reviews, and commentaries reporting research of the highest standard, novelty, and significance in the field of microbiology and related disciplines
- Author-friendly services: The journal allows format-free submission and posting on Preprint servers. It also provides scooping protection for authors (where a manuscript considered for publication will not be rejected if similar results are published elsewhere after submission to microLife).
- Review Process: Upon submission, the Editors-in-Chief assess manuscripts with primary emphasis on scientific excellence, originality, and field-shaping potential. Manuscripts meeting this threshold are entrusted to a Fellow of the European Academy of Microbiology (EAM) as Handling Editor . The Handling Editor recruits two expert reviewers and may invite a third reviewer if the study spans multiple disciplines, ensuring a thorough and balanced evaluation.
What is the European Academy of Microbiology?
The European Academy of Microbiology (EAM) is a FEMS-founded network of leading microbiologists that promotes excellence through high-level meetings, expert scientific opinion, and leadership in microLife.
Want to learn more? Visit the EAM website.
Meet the Editorial leadership
Meet the Editor-in-Chief, Prof Carmen Buchrieser
In this episode of our podcast, Microbes and Us, we talk through her career, winning the Lwoff award, her greatest challenges, and favorite research interests.
Publish with purpose. Publish with FEMS
The FEMS journal portfolio spans the full spectrum of microbiology, publishing rigorous, society-backed research from fundamental discovery to real-world application. Stay updated on interesting reads, publishing opportunities, and more by signing up for the FEMS newsletter.
Open access is key to supporting the FEMS mission of disseminating high quality research as widely as possible: when high quality, peer reviewed sound science is open access, anyone, anywhere in the world with an internet connection, can read it. All but one of the not-for-profit FEMS journals are fully open access (OA), with one journal, FEMS Microbiology Letters, offering free-to-publish and OA options.
