Aims & Scope
Tiered Research Scope
Core Focus
- Viral molecular biology
- Viral replication mechanisms
- Virus-host interactions
- Viral pathogenesis
- Viral protein function
- Viral genome evolution
- Viral entry processes
- Immune evasion strategies
Secondary Focus
- Viral epidemiology
- Host immune responses
- Viral ecology
- Antiviral drug discovery
- Vaccine immunology
- Diagnostic assays
- Viral vector systems
- Bacteriophage applications
Emerging Areas
- AI for viral genomics
- Viral computational modeling
- Viral metagenomics
- CRISPR antiviral methods
- Viral proteomics
- Synthetic virology
- Viral epigenetics
- Single-cell analysis
Viral Systems in Scope
Comprehensive Coverage: JVAT welcomes research on all viral families and systems, including but not limited to: DNA viruses (Herpesviridae, Papillomaviridae, Poxviridae, Polyomaviridae, Adenoviridae), RNA viruses (Orthomyxoviridae, Flaviviridae, Coronaviridae, Retroviridae, Filoviridae, Picornaviridae, Caliciviridae, Reoviridae), bacteriophages, plant viruses, and emerging viral pathogens. Research may address human, animal, plant, or environmental viral systems with emphasis on fundamental viral biology.
Explicit Exclusions
- Patient treatment protocols or guidelines
- Clinical trial outcomes without mechanistic insight
- Healthcare delivery or infection control practices
- Clinical prescribing recommendations
- Hospital epidemiology without viral mechanism
- Patient management strategies
- Clinical diagnostic interpretation
- Health policy without scientific basis
- Purely observational clinical studies
- Pharmacokinetics without mechanism
- Clinical adverse event reporting
Disciplinary Boundary: JVAT focuses on viral microbiology and the fundamental science of viruses. While we welcome translational research that bridges basic virology to therapeutic development, manuscripts must emphasize mechanistic understanding, molecular processes, or microbiological principles. Clinical application may be discussed as context, but the primary contribution must advance virological science rather than clinical practice.
Article Types & Priorities
Editorial Standards
Mechanistic Rigor
Experimental Validation
Microbiological Focus
Novelty & Significance
Methodological Transparency
Ethical Compliance
Decision Metrics
Manuscripts are evaluated using the following weighted criteria:
Interdisciplinary Connections
Encouraged Collaborations: JVAT welcomes interdisciplinary research that integrates virology with immunology, molecular biology, genetics, bioinformatics, structural biology, ecology, evolution, or biotechnology-provided the primary focus remains on viral systems and mechanisms. Collaborations that apply engineering, computational, or analytical approaches to virological questions are particularly valued when they advance fundamental understanding of viral biology.
Questions About Scope? Authors uncertain about manuscript fit are encouraged to submit a pre-submission inquiry to the editorial office. Include a 200-word abstract and brief explanation of how the work advances virological science. The editorial team will provide guidance within 5 business days to help determine suitability before full submission.
