International Journal of Coronaviruses
Aims & Scope
The International Journal of Coronaviruses publishes research in which a coronavirus question is central to the study—from virus biology and host response to clinical effects, population surveillance, countermeasures and preparedness.
Is your manuscript likely to fit?
Usually, yes when the study directly advances understanding of coronaviruses or coronavirus disease and its methods, evidence and conclusions are appropriate to the research question. General infectious-disease or medical studies in which coronavirus is incidental are outside the journal’s scope.
Scientific remit
A coronavirus-focused journal for an evolving field
The journal considers basic, translational, clinical, epidemiological and public-health research on human and animal coronaviruses. This includes SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, endemic human coronaviruses, animal coronaviruses and newly identified or emerging coronavirus threats. Historical pandemic research remains part of the scholarly record; new submissions should state clearly whether their evidence is historical, contemporary or prospective.
Submissions may examine mechanisms, measurement, clinical or population effects, interventions, or preparedness. The work must retain a substantive coronavirus focus and must not present research findings as clinical advice.
Research areas
What the journal covers
The list below defines the journal’s core areas without limiting consideration of well-justified work at their intersections.
Biology, structure and replication
Coronavirus genomes, proteins, entry, replication, assembly, egress, cell tropism and molecular determinants of viral function.
Evolution, genomics and variants
Genetic diversity, recombination, selection, phylogenetics, within-host evolution, variant characterisation and genomic methods with clear biological or epidemiological relevance.
Pathogenesis and host–virus interaction
Cellular and tissue responses, viral immune evasion, disease mechanisms, host susceptibility and determinants of severity or persistence.
Immunology
Innate and adaptive responses, immune memory, correlates of protection, immunopathology, antigenic change and immune escape.
Epidemiology and surveillance
Transmission, outbreak investigation, molecular epidemiology, serosurveillance, environmental surveillance and models supported by appropriate data and transparent assumptions.
Diagnostics and measurement
Development, analytical or clinical validation, comparative performance and implementation of molecular, antigen, serological, imaging or other coronavirus-specific methods.
Vaccines and therapeutics
Discovery, mechanisms, preclinical or clinical evaluation, effectiveness, safety signals, resistance and evidence-based assessment of pharmaceutical or non-pharmaceutical interventions.
Clinical manifestations and consequences
Coronavirus-associated disease, complications, co-infections, outcomes and long-term consequences where the study design supports a clear coronavirus-specific inference.
Zoonoses and One Health
Animal reservoirs, cross-species transmission, host range, ecology, spillover risk and integrated human–animal–environment surveillance.
Prevention and preparedness
Coronavirus-specific infection prevention, risk communication, health-system readiness, public-health preparedness and responsible assessment of future threats.
Suitable contributions
Article types and evidence
Suitability depends on the scientific contribution and reporting quality, not only on the manuscript label.
Original research
Laboratory, translational, clinical, epidemiological, modeling, surveillance or One Health studies with a defined question and reproducible methods.
Reviews and evidence syntheses
Systematic, scoping or critical reviews and meta-analyses that use an explicit method and distinguish established evidence from uncertainty.
Short communications and analyses
Focused findings, validated methods, datasets or timely analyses that make a complete and appropriately supported contribution.
Case-based reports
Cases or case series with unusual virological, immunological, diagnostic, therapeutic or clinical insight beyond a routine presentation.
Perspectives, commentaries and letters
Evidence-grounded discussion of a defined scientific question, published work or research priority; advocacy and unsupported clinical claims are not suitable.
Authors and readers
Who the journal serves
- Virologists, molecular biologists and genomic scientists
- Immunologists, vaccine and therapeutic researchers
- Infectious-disease clinicians and clinical researchers
- Epidemiologists, modelers and surveillance specialists
- Diagnostic and laboratory scientists
- Veterinary, wildlife and One Health researchers
- Infection-prevention and public-health professionals
Readers should interpret published articles as scholarly research, not as individual clinical or public-health advice.
Scope boundaries
What belongs—and what does not
Clear boundaries help authors avoid submitting work for which another journal would provide a more appropriate readership.
Potentially in scope
- A coronavirus or coronavirus disease is the central research subject.
- The study adds biological, clinical, epidemiological or public-health knowledge.
- Methods and data are appropriate to the stated question.
- Computational or modeling work includes transparent assumptions and suitable validation.
- Clinical and population conclusions remain within the limits of the evidence.
- Historical COVID-19 data are identified by period and interpreted in that context.
Normally out of scope
- General infectious-disease, medical or public-health work with only incidental coronavirus relevance.
- Unsubstantiated treatment, vaccine, diagnostic, transmission or outbreak claims.
- Clinical guidance, commercial promotion, political advocacy or social commentary without a defined research method and evidence base.
- Routine case descriptions, sequence reports or datasets without sufficient analysis or scientific insight.
- Forecasts or models that do not disclose assumptions, data limitations and validation.
- Research that lacks required ethics, consent, biosafety, reporting or data-integrity safeguards.
Scope is an editorial threshold, not a promise of review or acceptance. Manuscripts are also assessed for scientific validity, originality, ethics, reporting quality and relevance to the journal’s readers.
Before submission
A five-point manuscript fit check
Authors should be able to answer “yes” to each statement before starting a submission.
- The title, abstract and main research question make the coronavirus focus explicit.
- The article explains what is new and why it matters to coronavirus research or practice.
- The methods, sample or dataset can support the stated conclusions.
- Ethics, consent, trial registration, biosafety, data and reporting requirements are addressed where applicable.
- The discussion distinguishes evidence, limitations and uncertainty from clinical or public-health advice.
Next step
Ready to prepare a submission?
Review the author instructions and editorial policies before opening the submission system. The journal does not promise acceptance, expedited review or a fixed decision time.
Submit a manuscriptPreparation: Instructions for Authors · Editorial Policies · Article Processing Charges
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