Announcements

Our portfolio of journals available for publishing up-to-date research in immediate open access format has been further expanded. In June 2026, eleven new journals released their inaugural issues and two transferred journals released their first issue as part of MDPI, covering the subjects of environmental & earth sciences, chemistry & materials science, public health & healthcare, engineering, medicine & pharmacology, and biology & life sciences. 

We extend our gratitude to the Editors-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and Editorial Board Members who will shape the future course of these new journals. Each journal is dedicated to upholding strong editorial standards through a thorough peer review process, enabling impactful open access scholarship. 

Please feel free to browse and discover more about the new journals below. 

We would like to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. If you would like to create a new journal, you are welcome to send an application here or contact the New Journal Committee (newjournal-committee@mdpi.com).

Peer review is the invisible foundation of academic progress. The 2025 MDPI Top Reviewers are some of the key experts who helped build it.

We are honored to recognize 1000 individuals from our global community of 210,000 reviewers across 67 countries and territories—chosen for their commitment to rigorous, constructive peer review and the consistency of their contributions throughout 2025.

The Top Reviewers provided constructive and impartial feedback that makes research stronger and more impactful, and we are grateful for it.

The names of these reviewers are listed below in alphabetical order by first name:

(Note: we respected all privacy preferences, with part of nominees opting for limited attribution.)

Impact Factors measure how often articles in scientific journals are cited—specifically, the average number of citations received in a given year by articles published in that journal over the previous two years, as tracked in the Web of Science. For researchers, the number answers a practical question: how often is work published in this journal being picked up and built upon?

The metric is assigned to the journal as a whole, not to individual articles. A high Impact Factor tells you something useful about a journal's place in its field; it tells you less about any single paper within it.

For a complementary, article-level view, MDPI lists an Altmetric score on each article page. Where the Impact Factor tracks academic citations, the Altmetric score captures broader online attention: how an article is being shared, discussed, and referenced beyond the journal literature. Together, they offer two different ways of asking the same question: is this research reaching people?

With 2025 CiteScores from Scopus published a few weeks ago, Clarivate has now released this year's Journal Impact Factors in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR).

254 MDPI Journals Saw a Rise in Impact Factor

This year's JCR include 330 MDPI journals across a wide range of disciplines. Of these, 231 journals are placed in the top 50% (Q1 or Q2) of their respective subject categories, a result that spans fields as different as materials science, public health, environmental studies, and mathematics. 78 journals hold a top-quartile position (Q1), and 33 journals have a JIF of 5.0 or above.

• 330 journals earned a Journal Impact Factor (JIF)
• 29 journals earned a first JIF
• 254 journals had an increase in JIF
• 71% of ranked journals are in Q1 or Q2

For the full metrics on any MDPI journal, visit our Web of Science journals overview page or a journal's individual statistics page.

29 MDPI Journals Received Their First Journal Impact Factor

A first Impact Factor is a confirmation for an emerging journal. It marks the point at which a journal has been publishing long enough, and cited broadly enough, to enter the formal record of scientific influence. For the research communities those journals serve, it signals that the work being published is being read and built upon.

This year, 29 MDPI journals received a Journal Impact Factor for the first time, across a range of emerging and established research areas. Each represents years of editorial development and peer review—recognized in 2026 for the first time in the JCR.

This is also part of a longer shift in how science gets indexed. When the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) launched in 2016, 24 MDPI journals were included. By 2024 that number had grown to over 200, reflecting a broader change in the visibility of open access publishing within major citation tracking systems, not just at MDPI but across the sector.

Open Access with Impact

MDPI journals have received a total of 25.2 million citations in Web of Science. That figure matters less as a measure of MDPI's reach and more as a measure of what happens when research is freely available: it gets found, read, and used. Open access is only meaningful if the work actually travels and citations are one indicator that it does.

More than 4.6 million authors have published with MDPI. That breadth, across disciplines, institutions, and geographies, is what makes open access at this scale worth doing.

Thank You to the MDPI Scholarly Community

These results belong to the people who do the actual work: the Editors-in-Chief who set the standards, the Editorial Board Members and reviewers who hold them, and the authors who choose open access for their research. The numbers in the Journal Citation Reports are the downstream effect of decisions made at the desk, in the review, and at submission. Thank you for making them.

Data: 2025 Journal Impact Factors, Journal Citation Reports™ (Clarivate, 2026)

Recommendation from Editor-in-Chief: “The review, entitled “Salmonellosis in Cattle: Sources and Risk of Infection, Control, and Prevention”, by Bentum et al. provides a valuable synthesis of insights into the increasingly important global zoonotic public health challenges of salmonellosis from the perspective of cattle production and explores diverse measures that can be implemented to mitigate the threats of infection with this pathogen. Effective prevention and control measures for Salmonella infections of cattle are needed to prevent the prominent food-borne transmission to humans of these bacteria that are increasingly characterized by emergence of multidrug resistant strains. Bentum et al. examine risk factors for introduction and persistence of Salmonella on cattle farms, explore intervention strategies, and conclude that a holistic, all stakeholders, farm focused approach is needed to reduce introduction of Salmonella into the human food chain.” – Prof. Dr. Stephen K. Wikel 

“Salmonellosis in Cattle: Sources and Risk of Infection, Control, and Prevention”
by Kingsley E. Bentum, Emmanuel Kuufire, Rejoice Nyarku, Viona Osei, Stuart Price, Dianna Bourassa, Temesgen Samuel, Charlene R. Jackson and Woubit Abebe
Zoonotic Dis. 2025, 5(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/zoonoticdis5010004
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0227/5/1/4

 1. Could you briefly introduce yourself and describe your main research focus?
Dr. Kingsley Emmanuel Bentum: I am a researcher in veterinary and food safety sciences with a strong interest in zoonotic pathogens and their impact on both animal and public health. My research focuses primarily on foodborne bacterial pathogens, particularly Salmonella, and how these organisms move through animal production systems and eventually affect humans. I am especially interested in understanding the transmission dynamics of these pathogens in food animals, the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance, and evidence-based strategies for disease prevention and control within a One Health framework. My work aims to bridge the gap between veterinary medicine, food safety, public health, and emerging technologies. I am interested not only in identifying pathogens but also in understanding the environmental, management, and behavioral factors that contribute to their persistence and spread. Ultimately, my goal is to contribute to safer food systems, improved animal health, and reduced risks of zoonotic disease transmission to communities worldwide. 

Ms. Viona Osei: I am a PhD candidate specializing in foodborne pathogens, particularly Listeria and Salmonella. My research takes a multidisciplinary approach, combining microbiology, molecular biology, genomics, and bioinformatics to study the detection, differentiation, and transmission of foodborne pathogens. A key focus of my work is understanding how these organisms move through the food chain and the environmental, animal, and production factors that facilitate their transmission to humans. I adopt a One Health perspective, linking environmental, food, animal, and human health to better understand and mitigate food safety risks. I am particularly interested in microorganisms that have major implications for public health. My work is driven by curiosity about microbial behavior in food production environments and a goal of improving food safety through stronger scientific evidence. 

Dr. Emmanuel Kuufire: I’m Emmanuel Kuufire, a PhD student in interdisciplinary pathobiology. My research focuses on zoonotic diseases, food safety, and pathogen surveillance. I am particularly interested in Salmonella epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, the use of machine learning, bioinformatics and other statistical approaches to improving disease prevention and control through detection in animal production systems and various clinical settings. 

Dr. Kingsley Emmanuel Bentum: What motivated me most was recognizing how closely connected animal health, environmental health, and human health truly are. Many infectious diseases that affect humans originate from animals, and foodborne outbreaks linked to livestock continue to pose serious global public health concerns. Seeing the real-world impact of these diseases inspired me to pursue research that could contribute to preventing infections before they reach people. For me, zoonotic disease research is not only a scientific pursuit but also a way of contributing to society in a meaningful and long-term way. I became particularly interested in how preventive strategies at the animal production level can reduce downstream human infections and improve food safety overall. My motivation is also rooted in the desire to help integrate both animal and human health systems while contributing solutions that benefit people and communities over time. In addition, the interdisciplinary nature of the field attracted me greatly. Zoonotic disease research combines microbiology, epidemiology, veterinary medicine, food safety, public health, bioinformatics, and, increasingly, data science and artificial intelligence. This creates opportunities to develop innovative approaches to disease surveillance, prediction, and prevention that can have a broad global impact. 

Ms. Viona Osei: My motivation comes from a strong interest in microbiology and a desire to understand biological systems that directly affect food safety and human health. I am fascinated by how microorganisms interact within food systems and influence outcomes that impact everyday life. Over time, I became especially interested in zoonotic and foodborne pathogens because of their complex transmission pathways between animals, food, and humans. This field allows me to connect fundamental microbiology with real-world public health challenges. Ultimately, my goal is to contribute to improving food safety and reducing microbial risks through better scientific understanding. 

Dr. Emmanuel Kuufire: I was motivated by the growing impact of zoonotic diseases on public health and food safety. Understanding how pathogens move between animals and humans inspired me to contribute to research that supports disease prevention and safer food systems. 

Dr. Kingsley Emmanuel Bentum: I believe the field is increasingly shifting toward prevention at the pre-harvest level, particularly on farms and within animal production systems. Traditionally, much emphasis has been placed on detecting pathogens during food processing and post-harvest stages. However, there is growing recognition that controlling pathogens at their source is one of the most effective ways to improve food safety and protect public health. Future research will likely focus more on proactive rather than reactive approaches. Instead of responding after outbreaks occur, researchers and public health professionals are now exploring methods to predict zoonotic outbreaks before they even begin. This includes improving pre-harvest detection systems, developing real-time surveillance strategies, and identifying environmental and management-related risk factors that contribute to pathogen emergence and spread. Another major direction is the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, genomics, and Big Data analytics. These tools have enormous potential to enhance predictive investigations, identify disease trends earlier, and improve decision-making in animal and public health systems. I believe that combining biological sciences with computational and predictive technologies will play a major role in the future of zoonotic disease research and food safety management. The One Health approach will also continue to grow in importance, encouraging stronger collaboration among veterinarians, physicians, environmental scientists, epidemiologists, and policymakers in addressing complex disease challenges globally. 

Ms. Viona Osei: I believe the field is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary, which is essential for addressing complex zoonotic disease challenges. Researchers are now combining microbiology, veterinary science, environmental health, and public health to better understand disease systems as a whole. This integrated approach is helping create a more comprehensive understanding of how zoonotic diseases emerge and spread, thereby improving prevention and control strategies. 

Dr. Emmanuel Kuufire: The field is moving toward more interdisciplinary and technology-driven approaches, including genomics, artificial intelligence, and predictive disease surveillance. There is also increasing emphasis on the One Health approach, which connects human, animal, and environmental health. 

Dr. Kingsley Emmanuel Bentum: One of the main reasons we selected Zoonotic Diseases as the platform for this work was its strong emphasis on interdisciplinary research connecting animal health, human health, and public health. Our review addressed transmission pathways, risk factors, prevention strategies, and the broader public health implications of salmonellosis in cattle, making the journal a natural fit for our study. 

Ms. Viona Osei: We chose Zoonotic Diseases because it aligns well with the scope of our research and its One Health focus. The journal provides a suitable platform for studies that bridge microbiology, veterinary science, and public health, ensuring that the work reaches an audience directly engaged in zoonotic disease research and control. For researchers selecting journals, I would suggest carefully matching the scope of the journal with the study’s central message and intended audience, especially for interdisciplinary One Health research. 

Dr. Emmanuel Kuufire: We chose Zoonotic Diseases because the journal aligns well with our research interests in public health and animal-associated diseases. For other researchers, I would recommend selecting journals that closely match the scope of their work and target audience rather than focusing only on impact factor. 

Dr. Kingsley Emmanuel Bentum: One of the major impacts of this study is that it reinforces the importance of viewing cattle farms and animal production systems as critical control points in preventing zoonotic foodborne disease transmission. Rather than focusing only on contamination during processing or retail stages, the paper highlights the need for preventive interventions earlier in the production chain. The review provides a comprehensive overview of the major sources and risk factors associated with salmonellosis in cattle, including environmental contamination, feed, water, animal management practices, and antimicrobial resistance concerns. By bringing together current knowledge on transmission dynamics and prevention strategies, the paper helps emphasize the importance of integrated control measures across the entire food production continuum. Another key contribution is the emphasis on collaboration under a One Health framework. Effective prevention of zoonotic diseases such as salmonellosis requires coordinated efforts among farmers, veterinarians, researchers, public health professionals, regulators, and the food industry. The paper highlights how interdisciplinary cooperation is essential for improving disease surveillance, strengthening biosecurity, reducing antimicrobial resistance risks, and ultimately protecting public health. We also hope the review encourages greater investment in preventive research, surveillance systems, and evidence-based farm management practices that can reduce pathogen transmission before it reaches the consumer level. 

Ms. Viona Osei: The main impact of this study is to highlight cattle production systems as a key point for preventing human salmonellosis. It shows how Salmonella can enter and persist in herds, making farm-level prevention critical to reducing risks in the food chain. The study also underscores the need for a One Health approach that involves farmers, veterinarians, industry stakeholders, and regulators. Strengthening surveillance, biosecurity, and early intervention is essential for effective control. 

Dr. Emmanuel Kuufire: The study highlights the important role cattle play as reservoirs of Salmonella and summarizes key risk factors, transmission routes, and prevention strategies. It contributes to better understanding and awareness of foodborne disease control in livestock systems. 

Dr. Kingsley Emmanuel Bentum: One major challenge in zoonotic disease research is the complexity of disease transmission itself as most pathogens often move simultaneously through animals, humans, wildlife, food systems, and the environment. This makes it difficult to identify and control every contributing factor. These interconnected pathways require multidisciplinary collaboration and large-scale data collection, which can be both scientifically and logistically demanding. Additionally, translating research findings into practical and widely adopted interventions can be challenging. Scientific recommendations must often balance animal health, economic realities, farm management practices, and public health priorities simultaneously. Despite these challenges, the field remains highly rewarding because of its direct impact on food safety, animal welfare, and human health globally. 

Ms. Viona Osei: A key challenge is engaging effectively with stakeholders such as farmers and livestock producers. Research findings related to pathogen detection can sometimes raise concerns about animal health status or production practices. This makes communication and trust-building essential. Researchers must present findings clearly and responsibly, ensuring that results are interpreted in context and can be used constructively to improve food safety without creating unnecessary alarm. 

Dr. Emmanuel Kuufire: Some major challenges include limited funding, difficulties in long-term surveillance, antimicrobial resistance, and the complexity of tracking pathogen transmission between animals, humans, and the environment. 

Dr. Kingsley Emmanuel Bentum: My advice to early career researchers and PhD students is to view peer review as a valuable learning opportunity rather than as criticism. Reviewer comments, even when challenging, can significantly strengthen a manuscript if approached constructively and professionally. Some of the most impactful improvements in scientific papers often come through the revision process. Persistence is also extremely important in academic publishing. Rejections, revisions, and delays are normal parts of the research journey and are experienced by nearly every researcher. It is important not to become discouraged by setbacks. Instead, focus on continuously improving your scientific writing, research design, and analytical skills over time. Finally, I believe researchers should prioritize conducting meaningful and scientifically rigorous work rather than chasing publication numbers alone. High-quality research that addresses real-world problems and contributes to public health will always have a long-term impact and value. 

Ms. Viona Osei: For early career researchers, it is important to clearly connect zoonotic findings to human health relevance while maintaining methodological rigor and reproducibility, especially in genomic analyses. Avoid overinterpreting transmission patterns and ensure conclusions are well supported by the data. Focus on key findings rather than excessive detail, and use a clear One Health framing only when it is justified by the results. Being transparent about limitations, seeking informal peer feedback before submission, and selecting journals strategically can significantly improve clarity, impact, and acceptance outcomes. 

Dr. Emmanuel Kuufire: My advice is to stay persistent, be open to feedback, and focus on producing quality research. Peer review should be seen as an opportunity to improve your work, and collaboration and mentorship are also very important for career development.

We are pleased to share that Zoonotic Diseases (ISSN: 2813-0227) receives its first CiteScore of 2.3 in June 2026, following its inclusion in Scopus (Elsevier) in 2025. The CiteScore ranks the journal 19 out of 44 titles (Q2) in the “Veterinary (miscellaneous)” category, an impressive achievement for a journal running in Volume 6.

You can find more statistics on our website.

The current CiteScores measure the average number of citations within a journal over a four-year window (2022–2025). The Scopus database provides a comprehensive suite of metrics that support informed publishing strategies, research evaluation and enable benchmarking of journal performance.

This achievement reflects the collective efforts of our authors, reviewers, and editors. Together we will continue to track the progress of Zoonotic Diseases and its growing impact in zoonoses research.

The 2025 CiteScore metrics have been officially released by Scopus, and the results confirm what has become a consistent pattern for MDPI's journal portfolio: broad recognition across disciplines, steady improvement across the majority of ranked titles, and a growing presence at the top of subject category rankings.

CiteScore, published annually by Elsevier's Scopus database, measures the average citations received by articles published in a journal over a four-year window. As a complement to the Journal Impact Factor, which uses a two-year window based on the Web of Science database, CiteScore provides an alternative, long-term perspective on citation performance.

The 365 MDPI journals in Scopus (as of May 2026) are indexed across a wide range of subject categories, ensuring that open access research remains highly discoverable to a global readership through one of the most widely used platforms in academic publishing.

Data Summary (2025 CiteScores)

• New Additions: 41 MDPI journals received a CiteScore for the first time.
• Trending Upward: 234 of 322 previously ranked journals (73%) saw an increase in their CiteScore compared to last year.
• High Visibility: 314 journals (86%) rank in Q1 or Q2 in at least one subject category.
• Elite Performance: 42 journals rank in the top 10% of their subject categories.

Portfolio Performance

Among the 322 journals that held a CiteScore in 2024, 234 saw an increase this year. Quartile improvements outnumbered declines across the portfolio, with 52 journals moving to a higher quartile and only 20 seeing a decline. Furthermore, no previously ranked journals were removed. The 42 journals now ranked in the top 10% of their subject categories are drawn from a strong foundation of 178 journals holding a Q1 position.

With the large majority of our indexed portfolio ranked in the top half of research fields, researchers can confidently choose MDPI to meet funder mandates for high-quality, fully compliant Open Access publishing.

Exceptional Achievements for Foods and Life

Notably, both Foods and Life achieved a 99th percentile ranking in their respective subject categories for the 2025 CiteScores. This outstanding placement positions them as leading journals in their fields and highlights the high visibility and global impact of the open access research they publish.

Journal Metrics and Beyond

Journal-level metrics describe outlets, not individual articles. An increasing number of funders and institutions—including signatories of DORA and the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment—now explicitly encourage evaluation at the article level rather than by the journal in which research appears. MDPI supports this direction: we report CiteScore alongside the Journal Impact Factor, Journal Citation Indicator, and article-level usage data because no single number captures the full reach and contribution of published research.

Thank You

These results reflect the sustained effort of thousands of editors-in-chief, editorial board members, reviewers, and authors across every field MDPI serves. The metrics are the outcome; the work is yours.

Conference: The Northern European Conference on Travel Medicine (NECTM10)
Date: 3–5 June 2026
Location: Belfast, UK

We are excited to announce that MDPI will participate as an exhibitor at the Northern European Conference on Travel Medicine (NECTM10) from 3 to 5 June 2026.

NECTM was founded by twelve travel health organizations and societies in eight countries to meet common educational needs in the expanding multidisciplinary field of travel medicine. The first biennial conference was successfully held in Edinburgh in 2006, followed by Bergen, Hamburg, Dublin, Helsinki, London, Stockholm, Rotterdam, and Copenhagen. Between 500 and 1000 travel medicine specialists and practitioners across Europe and beyond meet every other year to share the latest scientific updates, discuss ideas, interact, learn, and enjoy the experience together—always with smiles on our faces. Every NECTM is unique and reflects current scientific challenges as well as specific travel medicine issues.

If you are planning to attend the above conference, please feel free to reach out to us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at booth 7 and answering any questions that you may have.

For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://mkon.nu/nectm_10/nectm.

Conference: ASM Microbe 2026
Date: 4–7 June 2026
Location: Washington, USA

MDPI will be attending the ASM Microbe 2026 as an exhibitor. We welcome researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas with us.

ASM Microbe 2026 is transforming the way we connect with science. For the first time, they are hosting three independent meetings under one roof and offering the most comprehensive access to cutting-edge research and experts driving discovery in your field.

Delve into your scientific community by attending 1 of 3 distinct meetings—Health, Applied & Environmental Microbiology or Mechanism Discovery. Each offers a focused, in-depth experience tailored to your field, providing the latest research, perspectives and developments shaping the future of microbial science. Wherever your expertise lies, you will find a meeting that speaks directly to your science at ASM Microbe.

1. Shape the Direction of Microbial Science: Collaborate with peers who are setting research agendas and driving progress across academia, industry and government. ASM Microbe brings together the most accomplished minds across disciplines to advance collective understanding and influence the future of microbial research and application.
2. Discover Tools, Ideas and Industry Innovations: Visit the dynamic exhibit hall where leading companies showcase the latest technologies, products and solutions. Connect with industry experts, gain insights into emerging tools and uncover opportunities to advance your research and applications.
3. Uncover the Latest Breakthroughs in Microbial Science: Explore the poster hall and cutting-edge abstracts to discover the newest findings presented by scientists from around the world. Gain insights that advance your research, spark new ideas and reveal trends shaping the future of the field.
4. Connect With the Brightest Minds: Build collaborations and form new partnerships across academia, industry and government. Network with peers and mentors who can challenge your thinking and amplify your science.
5. Be Part of the Conversation That Moves Science Forward: ASM Microbe 2026 brings together your community to present research, define priorities, share perspectives and accelerate discovery. From the leading experts shaping the field, to the rising stars driving the next generation of discoveries, this is where leaders convene, game-changing research is unveiled and the next era of microbial science takes shape.

The following open acess journals will be represented:

• Microorganisms;
• Fermentation;
• Life;
• JoF;
• Vaccines;
• Applied Microbiology;
• Aerobiology;
• Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease;
• Antibiotics;
• Microbiology Research;
• Zoonotic Diseases;
• Pathogens;
• Bacteria;
• Acta Microbiologica Hellenica.

If you are planning to attend this conference, please do not hesitate to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://asm.org/events/asm-microbe/home.