Specific areas of the Journal

Cell biology

The main characteristic of research papers in the area of Cell Biology is the emphasis on the integration at the cellular level of biochemical, molecular, genetic, physiological, and pathological information. This section considers manuscripts dealing with either prokaryotic or eukaryotic biological systems at any developmental stage. Papers on all aspects of cellular structure and function are considered to be within the scope of Cell Biology by the BJMBR. The Editors encourage submission of manuscripts defining cell biology as an area of convergence of several other research fields, especially manuscripts providing insights into the cellular basis of immunology, neurobiology, microbial pathology, developmental biology, and disease. Manuscripts containing purely descriptive observations will not be published. Manuscripts reporting new techniques will be published only when adequately validated and judged by the Editors to represent a significant advance.

Biological activity of natural products

The Journal will consider papers for publication which describe the activity of substances of biological origin only if they satisfy all of the following criteria:

  • Papers should describe the separation of the crude material into fractions (not necessarily into homogeneous materials) with the fractions containing biological activity identified clearly in the separation scheme. Phytochemical studies should be accompanied by biological tests. A survey of pharmacological activity of plant extracts or teas will not be considered for publication.
  • In addition to the demonstration of activity in one or more biological system, experiments must be performed attempting to provide information concerning the mechanism(s) of action of the substance(s) being tested.
  • Sufficient experimental information must be provided to permit repetition of the preparation of fractions and the bioassay used.
  • Sources should be identified completely, and, if plant material, a specimen should be classified by an expert and deposited in a local botanical garden, university or research institute. The name and institution of the person who classified the plant and the number of the voucher under which it was deposited should be provided in the Material and Methods section.
  • The Journal does not publish toxicological studies.