Cell Host and Microbe Template
Get your Cell Host and Microbe paper right the first time: a ready-made structure with the right abstract and citations, so editors see your science, not formatting slips.
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How to Use the Cell Host and Microbe Template | A Step-by-Step Guide
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 3 August, 2026
Submitting to Cell Host and Microbe goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the Cell Host and Microbe guide for authors before peer review, so formatting, structure, and required statements should be right on the first draft rather than repaired during upload. This template sets that structure up for you.
What is the Cell Host and Microbe Template?
It is a manuscript shell aligned to Cell Host and Microbe. It covers front matter, the abstract the journal expects, a body organized to the journal's article types, and a reference list in the journal's required style. Confirm current scope and article types on the Cell Host and Microbe journal page before you draft.
What's actually in a Cell Host Microbe submission:
Prepare the title, authors, affiliations, and ORCID iDs. Write the abstract to the journal's rule and word limit, organize the body to the article type, and apply the required reference style from the first citation. Complete every declaration (ethics, competing interests, funding, data availability) the Cell Host and Microbe guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
What separates a clean submission from one that gets kicked back:
The common failure modes are formatting or reference style that does not match the guide for authors, missing required statements, and an incomplete portal checklist. Clear all three against the Cell Host and Microbe guide for authors before you submit.
What does this Cell Host and Microbe Template include?
The shell mirrors what editorial staff check first: article-type fit, the abstract rules, required declarations, and the journal's reference style. For more detail see the author resources. When your draft is ready, upload it through Editorial Manager.
Steps to Use This Template with SciSpace Agent
- Click Start Writing on this page. The SciSpace Agent prompt screen opens with the template loaded.
- Use the loaded template, or upload a version your group already uses for Cell Host Microbe.
- Edit the prompt with your topic and article type, and note any requirement from the Cell Host and Microbe guide for authors.
- Run the prompt. The agent drafts into the correct structure and reference style.
- Use View Outputs to verify required statements and formatting are present.
- Export and submit through Editorial Manager.
Cell Host and Microbe Template Structure at a Glance
| Element | Cell Host Microbe requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Research/Resource/Theory articles: Unstructured summary of 150 words maximum (confirmed by third-party sources citing official guidelines; Cell Press journals typically use 150-word unstructured summaries as seen in Stem Cell Reports and other Cell Press journals). Review articles: abstract no more than 150 words. Minireview articles: abstract no more than 100 words. Perspective articles: abstract no more than 150 words. Preview/Forum/Commentary articles: abstract no more than 50 words |
| Main text | Research/Resource/Theory articles: under 7,000 words total (including title, author list, affiliations, and main figure legends but excluding STAR Methods text, supplemental item legends, and References section); maximum 7 figures and/or tables. Short articles: under 4,000 words (including title, author names and affiliations, summary, and figure legends but excluding STAR Methods text, supplemental item legends, and references); maximum 4 figures and/or tables. Brief reports: up to 2,500 words of main article text (not including references); maximum 2 display items |
| Declarations | Ethics approval/consent as applicable; competing interests; funding; data availability |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | Keywords section is listed as a required component in the manuscript structure (per the Information for Authors page), but the official guide does not specify the number/range required, whether MeSH terms are needed, or if they are optional vs. mandatory |
| References | Cell Press numbered style: sequential superscript numbers in text (e.g., 2 or 2,4). Reference list format: Author(s), year in parentheses, title, journal abbreviation in italics, volume in italics, page range. Similar to Vancouver style with author-year element |
| Peer review | Single-blind peer review (reviewers know author identities; reviewer identities are kept confidential from authors and other reviewers). Confirmed from Cell Press Information for Reviewers page |
| Submission | www.editorialmanager.com/cell-host-microbe/default.aspx |
Quick Tips for Using the Cell Host and Microbe Template
Read the Cell Host and Microbe guide for authors once before drafting and once before upload. Draft the abstract after results are stable. Set the reference style before adding citations. Keep a cover letter that states your contribution and fit to Cell Host and Microbe in under a page.
Best Practices
Skim two or three recent Cell Host Microbe papers to calibrate depth and figure style. Make the novelty clear in the first two pages. Deposit data and code when the policy on the Cell Host and Microbe journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Before You Submit: Final Check
Do one focused pass against the Cell Host and Microbe guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through Editorial Manager.
