Announcements

The purpose of our Best Paper Awards is to promote and recognize the most impactful contributions published within MDPI journals.

The editors of each journal carefully selected reviews and research papers through a rigorous judging process based on criteria such as the scientific merit, overall impact, and the quality of presentation of the papers published in the journal last year.

We are honored to present the winners in the subject areas of “Biology & Life Sciences”, who were selected amongst extensive competition, and congratulate the authors for their outstanding scientific publications.

MDPI will continue to provide support and recognition to the academic community.

Animals:

• “Effects of Dietary Betaine on Growth Performance, Digestive Function, Carcass Traitsand Meat Quality in Indigenous Yellow-Feathered Broilers under Long-Term Heat Stress”

by Wenchao Liu, Yilin Yuan, Chenyu Sun, Balamuralikrishnan Balasubramanian, Zhihui Zhao and Lilong An

Animals 2019, 9(8), 506, doi 10.3390/ani9080506

• “The Ethics of Human–Animal Relationships and Public Discourse: A Case Study of Lions Bred for Their Bones”

by Peter Coals, Dawn Burnham, Andrew Loveridge, David W. Macdonald, Michael ’t Sas-Rolfes, Vivienne L. Williams and John A. Vucetich

Animals 2019, 9(2), 52; doi 10.3390/ani9020052

• “The Potential Role of Insects as Feed: A Multi-Perspective Review”

by Giovanni Sogari, Mario Amato, Ilaria Biasato, Silvana Chiesa and Laura Gasco

Animals 2019, 9(4), 119; doi 10.3390/ani9040119

Antibodies:

• “Antibody Structure and Function: The Basis for Engineering Therapeutics”

by Mark L. Chiu; Dennis R. Goulet; Alexey Teplyakov and Gary L. Gilliland

Antibodies 2019, 8(4), 55; doi 10.3390/antib8040055

Antioxidants:

• “Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Flavanones from Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (licorice) Leaf Phytocomplexes: Identification of Licoflavanone as a Modulator of NF-kB/MAPK Pathway”

by Luca Frattaruolo, Gabriele Carullo, Matteo Brindisi, Sarah Mazzotta, Luca Bellissimo, Vittoria Rago, Rosita Curcio, Vincenza Dolce, Francesca Aiello and Anna Rita Cappello

Antioxidants 2019, 8(6), 186; doi 10.3390/antiox8060186

• “LC-ESI-QTOF/MS Characterisation of Phenolic Acids and Flavonoids in Polyphenol-Rich Fruits and Vegetables and Their Potential Antioxidant Activities”

by Chunhe Gu, Kate Howell, Frank R. Dunshea and Hafiz A. R. Suleria

Antioxidants 2019, 8(9), 405; doi 10.3390/antiox8090405

• “Nutritional Value, Chemical Composition and Cytotoxic Properties of Common Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) in Relation to Harvesting Stage and Plant Part”

by Spyridon A. Petropoulos, Ângela Fernandes, Maria Inês Dias, Ioannis B. Vasilakoglou, Konstantinos Petrotos, Lillian Barros and Isabel C. F. R. Ferreira

Antioxidants 2019, 8(8), 293; doi 10.3390/antiox8080293

• “A Comprehensive Review on Lipid Oxidation in Meat and Meat Products”

by Rubén Domínguez, Mirian Pateiro, Mohammed Gagaoua, Francisco J. Barba, Wangang Zhang and José M. Lorenzo

Antioxidants 2019, 8(10), 429; doi 10.3390/antiox8100429

Biology:

• “The Mammalian Circadian Timing System and the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus as Its Pacemaker”

by Michael H. Hastings, Elizabeth S. Maywood and Marco Brancaccio

Biology 2019, 8(1), 13; doi 10.3390/biology8010013

• “Combined Effects of Acute Temperature Change and Elevated pCO₂ on the Metabolic Rates and Hypoxia Tolerances of Clearnose Skate (Rostaraja eglanteria), Summer Flounder (Paralichthys dentatus), and Thorny Skate (Amblyraja radiata)”

by Gail D. Schwieterman, Daniel P. Crear, Brooke N. Anderson, Danielle R. Lavoie, James A. Sulikowski, Peter G. Bushnell and Richard W. Brill

Biology 2019, 8(3), 56; doi 10.3390/biology8030056

Biomolecules:

• “Flagella-Driven Motility of Bacteria”

by Shuichi Nakamura and Tohru Minamino

Biomolecules 2019, 9(7), 279; doi 10.3390/biom9070279

• “Systematic FTIR Spectroscopy Study of the Secondary Structure Changes in Human Serum Albumin under Various Denaturation Conditions”

by Dmitrii Usoltsev, Vera Sitnikovaandrey Kajava and Mayya Uspenskaya

Biomolecules 2019, 9(8), 359; doi 10.3390/biom9080359

• “Quantification of Fecal Short Chain Fatty Acids by Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry—Investigation of Pre-Analytic Stability”

by Gerhard Liebisch, Josef Ecker, Sebastian Roth, Sabine Schweizer, Veronika Öttl, Hans-Frieder Schött, Hongsup Yoon, Dirk Haller, Ernst Holler, Ralph Burkhardt and Silke Matysik

Biomolecules 2019, 9(4), 121; doi 10.3390/biom9040121

• “Cytotoxicity of Dendrimers”

by Anna Janaszewska, Joanna Lazniewska, Przemysław Trzepiński, Monika Marcinkowska and Barbara Klajnert-Maculewicz

Biomolecules 2019, 9(8), 330; doi 10.3390/biom9080330

Cells:

• “Combined Inhibition of TGF-β Signaling and the PD-L1 Immune Checkpoint Is Differentially Effective in Tumor Models”

by Heng Sheng Sow, Jiang Ren, Marcel Camps, Ferry Ossendorp and Peter ten Dijke

Cells 2019, 8(4), 320; doi 10.3390/cells8040320

• “Exosome Treatment Enhances Anti-Inflammatory M2 Macrophages and Reduces Inflammation-Induced Pyroptosis in Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiomyopathy”

by Dinender K. Singla, Taylor A. Johnson and Zahra Tavakoli Dargani

Cells 2019, 8(10), 1224; doi 10.3390/cells8101224

• “Overview of Extracellular Vesicles, Their Origin, Composition, Purpose, and Methods for Exosome Isolation and Analysis”

by Laura M. Doyle and Michael Zhuo Wang

Cells 2019, 8(7), 727; doi 10.3390/cells8070727

• “Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Regenerative Medicine”

by Yu Han, Xuezhou Li, Yanbo Zhang, Yuping Han, Fei Chang and Jianxun Ding

Cells 2019, 8(8), 886; doi 10.3390/cells8080886

Genes:

• “A High-Quality De novo Genome Assembly from a Single Mosquito Using PacBio Sequencing”

by Sarah B. Kingan, Haynes Heaton, Juliana Cudini, Christine C. Lambert, Primo Baybayan, Brendan D. Galvin, Richard Durbin, Jonas Korlach and Mara K. N. Lawniczak

Genes 2019, 10(1), 62; doi 10.3390/genes10010062

• “Eukaryotic 5-methylcytosine (m⁵C) RNA Methyltransferases: Mechanisms, Cellular Functions, and Links to Disease”

by Katherine E Bohnsack, Claudia Höbartner and Markus T Bohnsack

Genes 2019, 10(2), 102; doi 10.3390/genes10020102

• “Tree Lab: Portable Genomics for Early Detection of Plant Viruses and Pests in Sub-Saharan Africa”

by Laura M. Boykin, Peter Sseruwagi, Titus Alicai, Elijah Ateka, Ibrahim Umar Mohammed, Jo-Ann L. Stanton, Charles Kayuki, Deogratius Mark, Tarcisius Fute, Joel Erasto, Hilda Bachwenkizi, Brenda Muga, Naomi Mumo, Jenniffer Mwangi, Phillip Abidrabo, Geoffrey Okao-Okuja, Geresemu Omuut, Jacinta Akol, Hellen B. Apio, Francis Osingada, Monica A. Kehoe, David Eccles, Anders Savill, Stephen Lamb, Tonny Kinene, Christopher B. Rawle, Abishek Muralidhar, Kirsty Mayall, Fred Tairo and Joseph Ndunguru

Genes 2019, 10(9), 632; doi 10.3390/genes10090632

• “Transcription Factors Associated with Abiotic and Biotic Stress Tolerance and Their Potential for Crops Improvement”

by Elamin Hafiz Baillo, Roy Njoroge Kimotho, Zhengbin Zhang and Ping Xu

Genes 2019, 10(10), 771; doi 10.3390/genes10100771

Horticulturae:

• “Recent Advances in Hormonal Regulation and Cross-Talk during Non-Climacteric Fruit Development and Ripening”

by Lida Fuentes, Carlos R. Figueroa and Monika Valdenegro

Horticulturae 2019, 5(2), 45; doi 10.3390/horticulturae5020045

• “Evaluation of Two Wild Populations of Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium officinale (L.) Scop.) as a Potential Leafy Vegetable”

by Marta Guarise, Gigliola Borgonovo, Angela Bassoli and Antonio Ferrante

Horticulturae 2019, 5(1), 13; doi 10.3390/horticulturae5010013

Insects:

• “Olfactory Preference of Drosophila suzukii Shifts between Fruit and Fermentation Cues over the Season: Effects of Physiological Status”

by Rik Clymans, Vincent Van Kerckvoorde, Eva Bangels, Wannes Akkermans, Ammar Alhmedi, Patrick De Clercq, Tim Beliën and Dany bylemans

Insects 2019, 10(7), 200; doi 10.3390/insects10070200

• “Telenomus remus, a Candidate Parasitoid for the Biological Control of Spodoptera frugiperda in Africa, is already Present on the Continent”

by Marc Kenis, Hannalene du Plessis, Johnnie Van den Berg, Malick Niango Ba, Georg Goergen, Koffi Eric Kwadjo, Ibrahim Baoua, Tadele Tefera, Alan Buddie, Giovanni Cafà, Lisa Offord, Ivan Rwomushana and Andrew Polaszek

Insects 2019, 10(4), 92; doi 10.3390/insects10040092

• “Symbiotic Plant Biomass Decomposition in Fungus-Growing Termites”

by Rafael R. da Costa, Haofu Hu, Hongjie Li and Michael Poulsen

Insects 2019, 10(4), 87; doi 10.3390/insects10040087

International Journal of Molecular Sciences:

• “Aging, Melatonin, and the Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Networks”

by Rüdiger Hardeland

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(5), 1223; doi 10.3390/ijms20051223

• “Causative Links between Protein Aggregation and Oxidative Stress: A Review”

by Elise Lévy, Nadine El Banna, Dorothée Baïlle, Amélie Heneman-Masurel, Sandrine Truchet, Human Rezaei, Meng-Er Huang, Vincent Béringue, Davy Martin and Laurence Vernis

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(16), 3896; doi 10.3390/ijms20163896

• “Immunobiology of Atherosclerosis: A Complex Net of Interactions”

by Beatriz Herrero-Fernandez, Raquel Gomez-Bris, Beatriz Somovilla-Crespo and Jose Maria Gonzalez-Granado

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(21), 5293; doi 10.3390/ijms20215293

• “Development of a Gut-on-a-Chip Model for High Throughput Disease Modeling and Drug Discovery”

by Claudia Beaurivage, Elena Naumovska, Yee Xiang Chang, Edo D. Elstak, Arnaud Nicolas, Heidi Wouters, Guido van Moolenbroek, Henriëtte L. Lanz, Sebastiaan J. Trietsch, Jos Joore, Paul Vulto, Richard A.J. Janssen, Kai S. Erdmann, Jan Stallen and Dorota Kurek

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(22), 5661; doi 10.3390/ijms20225661

• “Triple-Negative Breast Cancer with High Levels of Annexin A1 Expression Is Associated with Mast Cell Infiltration, Inflammationand Angiogenesis”

by Maiko Okano, Masanori Oshi, Ali Linsk Butash, Eriko Katsuta, Kazunoshin Tachibana, Katsuharu Saito, Hirokazu Okayama, Xuan Peng, Li Yan, Koji Kono, Toru Ohtake and Kazuaki Takabe

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(17), 4197; doi 10.3390/ijms20174197

• “CGRP Induces Differential Regulation of Cytokines from Satellite Glial Cells in Trigeminal Ganglia and Orofacial Nociception”

by Shaista Afroz, Rieko Arakaki, Takuma Iwasa, Masamitsu Oshima, Maki Hosoki, Miho Inoue, Otto Baba, Yoshihiro Okayama and Yoshizo Matsuka

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(3), 711; doi 10.3390/ijms20030711

Life:

• “Characterization of Resistance in Gram-Negative Urinary Isolates Using Existing and Novel Indicators of Clinical Relevance: A 10-Year Data Analysis”

by Márió Gajdács, Zoltán Bátori, Marianna Ábrók, Andrea Lázár and Katalin Burián

Life 2020, 10(2), 16; doi 10.3390/life10020016

• “Neuroprotection or Neurotoxicity of Illicit Drugs on Parkinson’s Disease”

by Carla Ferreira, Catarina Almeida, Sandra Tenreiro and Alexandre Quintas

Life 2020, 10(6), 86; doi 10.3390/life10060086

Nutrients:

• “Gut Microbiome: Profound Implications for Diet and Disease”

by Ronald D. Hills, Benjamin A. Pontefract, Hillary R. Mishcon, Cody A. Black, Steven C. Sutton and Cory R. Theberge

Nutrients 2019, 11(7), 1613; doi 10.3390/nu11071613

• “Vitamin C Can Shorten the Length of Stay in the ICU: A Meta-Analysis”

by Harri Hemilä and Elizabeth Chalker

Nutrients 2019, 11(4), 708; doi 10.3390/nu11040708

• “Early Time-Restricted Feeding Improves 24-Hour Glucose Levels and Affects Markers of the Circadian Clock, Aging, and Autophagy in Humans”

by Humaira Jamshed, Robbie A. Beyl, Deborah L. Della Manna, Eddy S. Yang, Eric Ravussin and Courtney M. Peterson

Nutrients 2019, 11(6), 1234; doi 10.3390/nu11061234

Pathogens:

• “Alteration of Gut Microbiota in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Cause or Consequence? IBD Treatment Targeting the Gut Microbiome”

by Israr Kha, Naeem Ullah, Lajia Zha, Yanrui Bai, Ashiq Khan, Tang Zhao, Tuanjie Che and Chunjiang Zhang

Pathogens 2019, 8(3), 126; doi 10.3390/pathogens8030126

• “Candida albicans Interactions with Mucosal Surfaces during Health and Disease”

by Spyridoula-Angeliki Nikou,Nessim Kichik, Rhys Brown, Nicole O. Ponde, Jemima Ho, Julian R. Naglik and Jonathan P. Richardson

Pathogens 2019, 8(2), 53; doi 10.3390/pathogens8020053

• “Bacteriophages in Natural and Artificial Environments”

by Steven Batinovic, Flavia Wassef, Sarah A. Knowler, Daniel T.F. Rice, Cassandra R. Stanton, Jayson Rose, Joseph Tucci, Tadashi Nittami, Antony Vinh, Grant R. Drummond, Christopher G. Sobey, Hiu Tat Chan, Robert J. Seviour, Steve Petrovski and Ashley E. Franks

Pathogens 2019, 8(3), 100; doi 10.3390/pathogens8030100

Plants:

• “Plant Disease Detection and Classification by Deep Learning”

by Muhammad Hammad Saleem, Johan Potgieter and Khalid Mahmood Arif 

Plants 2019, 8(11), 468; doi 10.3390/plants8110468

• “Involvement of Phenolic Acids in Short-Term Adaptation to Salinity Stress is Species-Specific among Brassicaceae”

by Ida Linić, Dunja Šamec, Jiří Grúz, Valerija Vujčić Bok, Miroslav Strnad and Branka Salopek-Sondi

Plants 2019, 8(6), 155; doi 10.3390/plants8060155

• “Isoform-Specific NO Synthesis by Arabidopsis thaliana Nitrate Reductase”

by Marie Agatha Mohn, Besarta Thaqi and Katrin Fischer-Schrader

Plants 2019, 8(3), 67; doi 10.3390/plants8030067

• “GWAS for Starch-Related Parameters in Japonica Rice (Oryza sativa L.)”

by Chiara Biselliandrea Volante, Francesca Desiderio, Alessandro Tondelli, Alberto Gianinetti, Franca Finocchiaro, Federica Taddei, Laura Gazza, Daniela Sgrulletta, Luigi Cattivelli and Giampiero Valè

Plants 2019, 8(8), 292; doi 10.3390/plants8080292

1. “SARS-CoV-2 Spike Mutations, L452R, T478K, E484Q and P681R, in the Second Wave of COVID-19 in Maharashtra, India”
Sarah Cherian et al.
Microorganisms 2021, 9(7), 1542; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9071542
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/7/1542

2. “Epidemiology of Mucormycosis in India”
Hariprasath Prakash et al.
Microorganisms 2021, 9(3), 523; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9030523
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/3/523

3. “Gut–Skin Axis: Current Knowledge of the Interrelationship between Microbial Dysbiosis and Skin Conditions”
Britta De Pessemier et al.
Microorganisms 2021, 9(2), 353; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9020353
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/2/353

4. “Spread of Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negatives and Candida auris during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Critically Ill Patients: One Step Back in Antimicrobial Stewardship?”
Laura Magnasco et al.
Microorganisms 2021, 9(1), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9010095
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/1/95

5. “Persistence of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies Depends on the Analytical Kit: A Report for Up to 10 Months after Infection”
Julien Favresse et al.
Microorganisms 2021, 9(3), 556; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9030556
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/3/556

6. “A Comprehensive Review of Detection Methods for SARS-CoV-2”
Aziz Eftekhari et al.
Microorganisms 2021, 9(2), 232; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9020232
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/2/232

7. “Health-Promoting Role of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Isolated from Fermented Foods”
Natalia Garcia-Gonzalez et al.
Microorganisms 2021, 9(2), 349; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9020349
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/2/349

8. “The Role of Enterobacteriaceae in Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases”
Valerio Baldelli et al.
Microorganisms 2021, 9(4), 697; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9040697
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/4/697

9. “Recognizing the Benefits of Pre-/Probiotics in Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Considering the Influence of Akkermansia muciniphila as a Key Gut Bacterium”
Raluca Anca Corb Aron et al.
Microorganisms 2021, 9(3), 618; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9030618
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/3/618

10. “Fluoxetine Can Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 In Vitro”
Arthur Dechaumes et al.
Microorganisms 2021, 9(2), 339; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9020339
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/2/339

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new initiative—the Special Issue Mentor Program.

This program intends to provide an opportunity for early career scientists to enhance their editing, networking, and organizational skills and to work closely with our journal to gain more editorial experience. Early career scientists who have novel ideas for new Special Issues in Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607) will act as Guest Editors under the mentorship of an experienced scientist; this mentor could be a member of the Editorial Board of Microorganisms or from other well-established research institutes or laboratories.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please send your Special Issue proposal to the Microorganisms Editorial Office (microorganisms@mdpi.com), and we will discuss the process (i.e., mentor collaboration, Special Issue topic feasibility analysis, etc.) in further detail.

In addition to the new Special Issue Mentor Program, Microorganisms will continue to welcome all Special Issue proposals based on hot research topics.

Microorganisms Editorial Office

Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607) is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal that provides an advanced forum for studies related to prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms, viruses, and prions. We would like to invite active scientific researchers to become involved in our journal as Editorial Board Members. You can find out more about the existing Editorial Board Members by visiting the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/microorganisms/editors.

We warmly welcome prestigious scholars from around the world to join our Editorial Board for the following 14 Sections:

• “Gut Microbiota”;
• “Environmental Microbiology”;
• “Food Microbiology”;
• “Microbial Biotechnology”;
• “Medical Microbiology”;
• “Systems Microbiology”;
• “Molecular Microbiology and Immunology”;
• “Antimicrobial Agents and Resistance”;
• “Public Health Microbiology”;
• “Parasitology”;
• “Plant Microbe Interactions”;
• “Biofilm”;
• “Virology”;
• “Veterinary Microbiology”.

If you are interested or would like to recommend potential candidates or request further information, please contact our Editorial Office (microorganisms@mdpi.com) and send us your resume.

Microorganisms Editorial Office

In February 2022, Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607) established a new collaboration with the Society for Microbial Ecology and Disease (SOMED) (http://www.somed.nu/). As part of this collaboration, all affiliated SOMED members will enjoy a discount on Article Processing Charges (APC) when submitting articles to Microorganisms.

The mission of the Society for Microbial Ecology and Disease (SOMED) is to present scientific achievements and research advancements in the field of human microbial ecology and the role of microbes in health and disease. Moreover, SOMED promotes scientific knowledge and encourages research and technology in the field of microbial ecology and its relation to diseases and unifies the efforts of those involved in this field at the international level. The society organizes international conferences for scientific exchange and discussion between delegates from worldwide academia and industry.

Microorganisms provides an advanced forum for studies related to prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms, viruses and prions. The journal publishes original scientific research articles, comprehensive reviews, comments, commentaries, perspectives, etc. Microorganisms is covered by leading indexing services, including the Science Citation Index Expanded (Web of Science), Scopus, PubMed, PMC and many other databases.

Microorganisms is looking forward to a very fruitful collaboration with SOMED.

In 2020, Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607) established a collaboration with the Spanish Society for Nitrogen Fixation (SEFIN). As part of this collaboration, all affiliated SEFIN members will enjoy a discount on the Article Processing Charges (APC) when submitting articles to Microorganisms.

The Spanish Society of Nitrogen Fixation (SEFIN) has the following two major objectives: (1) to gain deeper insight into the process of biological nitrogen fixation and the beneficial interactions between plants and microorganisms, thus contributing to the improvement of sustainable agriculture and environmental protection; and (2) to promote the organization of scientific meetings, to facilitate the exchange of ideas between professionals interested in agricultural development and between other national or international organizations with similar or complementary goals. Currently, SEFIN has more than 100 members with expertise in the fields of microbiology, plant physiology, chemistry, biochemistry, and agronomy. The members belong to more than thirty research groups from universities and private and public research institutions. Since 2004, SEFIN has belonged to the Confederation of Spanish Scientific Societies (COSCE), which includes over 80 societies and 40,000 scientists.

Microorganisms provides an advanced forum for studies related to prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms, viruses, and prions. The journal publishes original scientific research articles, comprehensive reviews, comments, commentaries, perspectives, etc. The journal is covered by leading indexing services, including the Science Citation Index Expanded (Web of Science), Scopus, PubMed, PMC and many other databases.

Microorganisms is looking forward to a very fruitful collaboration with SEFIN.

In 2021, Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607) established a new collaboration with the Hellenic Society Mikrobiokosmos (MBK). As part of this collaboration, all affiliated MBK members will enjoy a discount on the Article Processing Charges (APC) when submitting articles to Microorganisms.

Mikrobiokosmos (microbial world in Greek) is a Hellenic Scientific Society that was established in 2007 with the mission to research, explore, and exploit national microbial resources. Microorganisms have endured and thrived from the beginning of life on our planet, and this makes them the most resourceful biology “story-tellers” of all living beings. They play key roles in biogeochemical cycling in different environmental compartments, with reciprocal and cascading effects in agriculture and animal, human, and plant health. They are important for sustainable agriculture, as microbial pesticides, biofertilizers, or bioremediating agents, and mediate in environmental cleanup and biodepuration. They support life in lakes and oceans, affecting all aquatic organism yields, and have an overall impact on the climate; they, indeed, regulate climate change. They contribute to food production, preservation, and safety, and thus to animal and human health and nutrition. They constitute an invaluable source of cellular and molecular material for exploitation in biotechnology and bioenergy production. Last but not least, they constitute an important and integral part of all other living organisms: the microbiome. Thus, the role of the microbial world—“mikrobiokosmos” in Greek—is considered more crucial than ever in the “One Health” and “One Planet” schools of thought—i.e., the emerging concepts advocating the intertwining of healthy global ecosystems with healthy living beings.

The Hellenic Society Mikrobiokosmos has more than 100 members and associated members from universities and public research centers with diverse expertise in the above-mentioned microbiology fields covering agriculture/fisheries/aquaculture, food/nutrition, environment, bioengineering, and biotechnology/bioenergy.

The Hellenic Society Microbiokosmos is a member of the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) and the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS).

Microorganisms provides an advanced forum for studies related to prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms, viruses, and prions. The journal publishes original scientific research articles, comprehensive reviews, comments, commentaries, perspectives, etc. The journal is covered by leading indexing services, including the Science Citation Index Expanded (Web of Science), Scopus, PubMed, PMC, and many other databases.

Microorganisms is looking forward to a very fruitful collaboration with MBK.

We are pleased to announce that Prof. Dr. Shuangjiang Liu has been appointed Associate Editor of Microorganisms (ISSN: 2076-2607).

Name: Prof. Dr. Shuangjiang Liu
Affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources and Environmental Microbiology Research Center, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Research Keywords: microbial degradation and interaction; microbiome; microbial cultivation

Prof. Dr. Shuangjiang Liu is a Professor at the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a distinguished professor at Shandong University. He is engaged in the research on microbial degradation of organic pollutants and microbial resources and has made outstanding achievements in the biodegradation of aromatic compounds, microbial chemotaxis mechanism, microbial isolation and culture. He has discovered a new mechanism of aromatic-compound chemotaxis and thiol-dependent aromatic hydrocarbon degradation pathway. He has published more than 200 research papers, and many strains and patented technologies have been transformed. In 2007, he was supported by the Outstanding Youth Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China.

We warmly welcome Prof. Dr. Shuangjiang Liu in his role as Associate Editor, and we look forward to his contributions to the continued success of the journal.

1. “The Use of Antimalarial Drugs against Viral Infection”
Sarah D’Alessandro et al.
Microorganisms 2020, 8(1), 85; 10.3390/microorganisms8010085
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/1/85

2. “Zoonotic Diseases: Etiology, Impact, and Control”
Md. Tanvir Rahman et al.
Microorganisms 2019, 7(1), 14;10.3390/microorganisms8091405
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/9/1405

3. “The Human Oral Microbiome in Health and Disease: From Sequences to Ecosystems”
Jesse R. Willis and Toni Gabaldón.
Microorganisms 2020, 8(2), 308;10.3390/microorganisms8020308
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/2/308

4. “The Influence of Probiotics on the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes Ratio in the Treatment of Obesity and Inflammatory Bowel disease”
Spase Stojanov et al.
Microorganisms 2020, 8(11), 1715; 10.3390/microorganisms8111715
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/11/1715

5. “Microbial Safety of Milk Production and Fermented Dairy Products in Africa”
James Owusu-Kwarteng et al.
Microorganisms 2020, 8(5), 752; 10.3390/microorganisms8050752
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/5/752

6. “Tocilizumab for Treatment of Severe COVID-19 Patients: Preliminary Results from Smatteo COVID-19 Registry (SMACORE)”
Marta Colaneri et al.
Microorganisms 2020, 8(5), 695; 10.3390/microorganisms8050695
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/5/695

7. “The Controversial Role of Human Gut Lachnospiraceae”
Mirco Vacca et al.
Microorganisms 2020, 8(4), 573; 10.3390/microorganisms8040573
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/4/573

8. “Isolation and Identification of Soil Bacteria from Extreme Environments of Chile and Their Plant Beneficial Characteristics”
Alexis Gaete et al.
Microorganisms 2020, 8(8), 1213; 10.3390/microorganisms8081213
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/8/1213

9. “COVID-19 Is a Multifaceted Challenging Pandemic Which Needs Urgent Public Health Interventions”
Carlo Contini et al.
Microorganisms 2020, 8(8), 1228; 10.3390/microorganisms8081228
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/8/1228

10. “An Update on the Genus Aeromonas: Taxonomy, Epidemiology, and Pathogenicity”
Ana Fernández-Bravo and Maria José Figueras
Microorganisms 2020, 8(1), 129; 10.3390/microorganisms8010129
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/1/129

We are pleased to announce that the following 13 Editorial Board Members have recently joined Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607).

Name: Prof. Dr. Satish Raina
Affiliation: Unit of Bacterial Genetics, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland
Interests: protein folding; heat shock response; peptidyl prolyl cis/trans isomerases; disulfide bond formation; RpoE sigma factor, two-component systems; envelope stress; transcription factors; lipopolysaccharide assembly and modifications; non-coding regulatory RNAs

Name: Prof. Dr. Franco H. Falcone
Affiliation: Division of Molecular Therapeutics and Formulation, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
Interests: mechanisms of Helicobacter pylori adhesion to the human gastric epithelium; development of new reporter systems for detection of sensitisation with allergen-specific IgE; molecular immunology

Name: Dr. Alain Doglio
Affiliation: Micoralis, UFR Odontologie, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
Interests: virology; oral diseases; virus-associated immune defect; periodontitis; gingival inflammatory condition; Epstein–Barr virus; herpesviruses

Name: Dr. Andrea Cortegiani
Affiliation: 1. Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Science (Di.Chir.On.S.), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
2. Department of Anaesthesia Intensive Care and Emergency, Policlinico Paolo Giaccone, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Interests: sepsis; infections in the critically ill; fungal infection; respiratory infection

Name: Dr. Marco Maria D'Andrea
Affiliation: Department of Biology, University of “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
Interests: antibiotic resistance mechanisms; genetic bases for the diffusion of antibiotic resistance genes; microbial bioinformatics; new antimicrobial drugs; bacteriophages; bacteriophages as tools for phage therapy

Name: Dr. Eva Pericolini
Affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences with Interest in Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
Interests: innate immunity to fungal infections; Candida; mucosal candidiasis; microbiota and mycobiota; fungal and bacterial biofilm; antifungal strategies

Name: Prof. Dr. José Ma. Alunda
Affiliation: Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Interests: Leishmania; Trypanosoma; chemotherapy; immunology; pathophysiology; pharmacology; parasites; vaccination; dog; ruminants; translational therapeutics; new drugs; drug delivery systems

Name: Prof. Dr. Edward R.B. Moore
Affiliation: 1. Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute for Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
2. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Guldhedsgatan 10a, Gothenburg, Sweden
Interests: microbial evolution and phylogeny; bacterial systematics and taxonomy; bacterial identification; molecular bacterial diagnostics; diagnostics of infectious diseases; anti-microbial resistance

Name: Dr. Martin Filion
Affiliation: Science and Technology Branch, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Government of Canada, 430 Gouin Boul., Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC J3B 3E6, Canada
Interests: pseudomonas; rhizosphere; plant-microbe interactions; biocontrol; plant-growth promotion; rhizocompetence

Name: Dr. Sangyong Lim
Affiliation: Radiation Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup 56212, Korea
Interests: molecular microbiology; gene regulatory networks; radiation resistant microorganisms; stress response proteins; deinococcus

Name: Prof. Dr. Lorenzo Zammarchi
Affiliation: Department of Experimental & Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University and Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
Interests: epidemiology and clinical management of neglected tropical diseases； emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases; infectious diseases in pregnancy

Name: Dr. Seong-Tshool Hong
Affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Institute for Medical Science, School of Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea
Interests: gut microbiome; trait; disease; nutrient; gene; composition of the gut microbiome

Name: Dr. James Garnett
Affiliation: Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK
Interests: biofilm formation; adhesion; secretion systems; structural biology; host–pathogen interactions; virulence factors; effectors; glycan

We wish them every success in their new positions and we look forward to their contributions to the journal.

Further details about the Microorganisms Editorial Board can be found at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/microorganisms/editors.