Ethics & Policies

International Journal of Modern Microbiology (IJMMB)         
P-ISSN: 3117-5937 | E-ISSN: 3117-5945

The International Journal of Modern Microbiology (IJMMB) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics, transparency, and academic integrity. The journal follows internationally recognized ethical guidelines to ensure the credibility, quality, and reliability of scholarly publications in microbiology and life sciences.

IJMMB expects all participants in the publication process—including authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher—to adhere to ethical standards and avoid any form of misconduct such as plagiarism, duplicate submission, data fabrication, falsification, and unethical research practices.

Manuscripts containing plagiarized or unethical content will not be considered for publication. If misconduct is identified at any stage, appropriate actions including rejection, correction, or retraction will be taken based on the severity of the issue.

  1. Ethical Guidelines for Authors

Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that their manuscripts are entirely original. Any use of others’ work, ideas, or data must be properly cited and referenced. Plagiarism in any form is strictly prohibited.

Multiple or Concurrent Submissions

Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously. Concurrent submissions are considered unethical and unacceptable.

Reporting Standards

Authors must present an accurate, clear, and objective account of their research. Sufficient details and references should be provided to allow reproducibility.

Authorship Criteria

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant contributions, including:

  • Study design and concept
  • Data collection and analysis
  • Interpretation of results
  • Manuscript preparation or revision

All authors must approve the final manuscript before submission. Contributors not meeting authorship criteria should be acknowledged.

Acknowledgment of Sources

All sources, references, and prior work must be properly acknowledged and cited.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest. Funding sources, grants, or sponsorships must be clearly stated.

Data Access and Retention

Authors may be required to provide raw data for editorial review. Data should be retained for a reasonable period after publication.

Human, Animal, and Biosafety Considerations

Research involving humans, animals, or hazardous microbiological materials must:

  • Comply with institutional and legal ethical standards
  • Include approval from relevant ethics committees
  • Clearly state safety and ethical considerations

Correction of Errors

Authors must promptly notify the journal if significant errors are identified in published work and cooperate in corrections or retractions.

  1. Ethical Guidelines for Reviewers

Confidentiality

Reviewers must treat manuscripts as confidential and must not disclose information without permission.

Objectivity

Reviews should be objective, constructive, and supported by clear arguments.

Conflict of Interest

Reviewers must decline assignments where conflicts of interest exist.

Timeliness

Reviewers should complete reviews within the agreed timeframe or inform the editorial office if delays occur.

Ethical Concerns

Reviewers must report suspected plagiarism, duplication, or unethical practices to the editorial team.

  1. Duties of Editors

Fairness and Editorial Independence

Editors evaluate manuscripts based on academic merit, originality, clarity, and relevance, without discrimination.

Confidentiality

Editors must not disclose information about submitted manuscripts to unauthorized individuals.

Conflict of Interest

Editors must avoid handling manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist and must not use unpublished data for personal research.

Publication Decisions

The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for final decisions based on:

  • Peer review feedback
  • Scientific quality
  • Ethical compliance

Handling Ethical Issues

Editors will investigate ethical concerns thoroughly and may take actions such as:

  • Corrections
  • Expressions of concern
  • Retractions
  1. Duties of the Publisher

Handling Misconduct

The publisher works with the editorial board to investigate and resolve cases of misconduct, including plagiarism and fraudulent publication.

Access and Preservation

IJMMB ensures long-term accessibility and preservation of published articles through its open access policy.

Commitment to Integrity

The publisher takes all reasonable steps to prevent the publication of unethical or fraudulent research.

  1. Commitment to Ethical Publishing

The International Journal of Modern Microbiology (IJMMB) is dedicated to:

  • Maintaining transparency in publishing
  • Upholding academic integrity
  • Promoting ethical research practices
  • Ensuring high-quality scholarly communication

The journal strives to ensure that all published research contributes positively to the global scientific and academic community.