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Plos Pathogens

PLOS Pathogens is an online-only journal focused on pathogen research and host-pathogen interactions. The journal publishes content including research articles, reviews, and Pearls, and is identified by ISSN 1553-7374 (online).

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Subject Virology
Impact Factor 4.9
Quartile Q1
Open Access Type Open
ISSN 1553-7366
eISSN 1553-7374
Invitation Only No
Cost Range PLOS Pathogens charges $3,165 for Research Articles and $3,165 for Short Reports. Authors at eligible Research4Life Group B institutions without external funding pay $940 for journals other than PLOS Biology, PLOS Medicine, and PLOS Sustainability and Transformation; eligible Group A authors publish free.

Submission Instructions

Plos Pathogens accepts the following article types. Click on an article type to view submission instructions.

Reviews

Cover Letter A cover letter must be uploaded as a separate file. The cover letter must explain why the manuscript is suitable for publication in PLOS Pathogens and how it will inspire the field and drive research forward.
Abstract An abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 300 words.
Manuscript Reviews should be 3000–5000 words. Manuscript should be organized with the following elements: Title, Authors, Affiliations, Abstract, Author Summary, Introduction, Results, Discussion, Materials and Methods, Acknowledgments, References, and Supporting information captions. Manuscript must include an Author Summary, a short title, and a dedicated Methods or Acknowledgements disclosure of any AI tool contributions including the tools used, how they were used and evaluated, and what content they affected.
References Reviews may include a maximum of 100 references. References must use Vancouver style. References must be listed at the end of the manuscript, numbered in the order of first appearance, cited in square brackets, and formatted with the first six authors followed by et al. when applicable.
Figures & Tables Reviews may include up to 5 figures. Tables must be inserted immediately after the first paragraph in which they are cited, and figures may be included in the main manuscript file at initial submission. Tables must not be submitted in separate files and must include a label and brief descriptive title, and figure captions must be embedded in the manuscript text immediately following the paragraph where the figure is first cited.
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Short Reports

Cover Letter A cover letter must be uploaded as a separate file. The cover letter must explain why the manuscript is suitable for publication in PLOS Pathogens and how the study will inspire others in the field and drive research forward.
Abstract An abstract is required. Abstract must not exceed 300 words.
Manuscript Short Reports should be no longer than 1800 words, with the limit applying to the Introduction, Results, Materials and Methods, and Discussion only. Short Reports should be organized as a Research Article. AI tool contributions must be reported in a dedicated section of the Methods, or in the Acknowledgments for article types lacking a Methods section.
References References must use Vancouver style. References must be listed at the end of the manuscript, numbered in order of first appearance, cited in the text with square-bracketed numbers, and formatted with the first six authors followed by et al. where applicable.
Figures & Tables Short Reports are typically summarized in 3–4 figures or fewer. Figures may be included in the main manuscript file at initial submission, figure captions must be embedded in the manuscript text, and tables must be inserted immediately after the first paragraph in which they are cited rather than submitted as separate files. Tables must include a label and brief descriptive title, and figure captions must include a figure label, a concise descriptive title, and use the abbreviation “Fig” with Arabic numerals.
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Recent Publications

Change in the Editorial Leadership of PLoS Pathogens

Kasturi Haldar, Grant McFadden, John A. T. Young

10.1371/journal.ppat.0040015
View Publication

Novel Insights into Disseminated Candidiasis: Pathogenesis Research and Clinical Experience Converge

Brad Spellberg

10.1371/journal.ppat.0040038
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The Toxoplasma Kinase ROP18: An Active Member of a Degenerate Family

Anthony P. Sinai

10.1371/journal.ppat.0030016
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Correction: Delayed Goblet Cell Hyperplasia, Acetylcholine Receptor Expression, and Worm Expulsion in SMC-Specific IL-4Rα–Deficient Mice

William G. C. Horsnell, Antony J. Cutler, J. Claire Hoving, Helen Mearns, Elmarie Myburgh, Berenice Arendse, Fred D. Finkelman, Gary K. Owens, Dave Erle, Frank Brombacher

10.1371/journal.ppat.0030037
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Correction: Dynorphin Activates Quorum Sensing Quinolone Signaling in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Olga Zaborina, Francois Lepine, Gaoping Xiao, Vesta Valuckaite, Yimei Chen, Terry Li, Mae Ciancio, Alex Zaborin, Elaine O. Petrof, Jerrold R. Turner, Laurence G. Rahme, Eugene Chang, John C. Alverdy

10.1371/journal.ppat.0030067
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Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to publish?

Time to first decision and time to publication are reported as median average calculations from PLOS data for 2024, with journal-specific values listed across the PLOS portfolio.

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Is a cover letter required?

A cover letter must be uploaded as a separate file in the online submission system. It should explain why the manuscript is suitable for PLOS Pathogens and how the study will inspire the field and drive research forward.

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What are the publication costs?

PLOS Pathogens charges an article processing charge of $3,165 for Research Articles and $3,165 for Short Reports. Eligible authors may receive free publication or a reduced fee through Research4Life or Publication Fee Assistance.

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Research Topics

HIV Research and Treatment Immune Cell Function and Interaction Mosquito-borne diseases and control Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research interferon and immune responses Viral Infections and Vectors Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology Plant Virus Research Studies Immune Response and Inflammation Viral-associated cancers and disorders Malaria Research and Control Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences Influenza Virus Research Studies Virus-based gene therapy research T-cell and B-cell Immunology Antifungal resistance and susceptibility SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research Vibrio bacteria research studies Bacteriophages and microbial interactions Trypanosoma species research and implications Viral Infections and Immunology Research Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity Respiratory viral infections research Animal Virus Infections Studies

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