Get your Current Protocols in Microbiology 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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Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 10 August, 2026
Submitting to Current Protocols in Microbiology goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the Current Protocols in Microbiology 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.
It is a manuscript shell aligned to Current Protocols in Microbiology. 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 Current Protocols in Microbiology journal page before you draft.
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 Current Protocols in Microbiology guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
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 Current Protocols in Microbiology guide for authors before you submit.
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 ScholarOne (Manuscript Central).
| Element | Current Protocols Microbiol requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Unstructured abstract required. Maximum 250 words for the overview style guide, but 300 words maximum for protocol articles according to the manuscript preparation guidelines. Must not include references. For protocol articles specifically, the titles of each protocol included must be listed beneath the abstract paragraph, and this text counts towards the 300-word limit |
| Main text | Current Protocols does not impose length requirements on manuscripts (with the exception of Protocol Communications, which are limited to 4000 words). The length of the manuscript should be dictated by the topic presented. No overall word or page limits are specified for standard protocol articles |
| Declarations | Ethics approval/consent as applicable; competing interests; funding; data availability |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | Three to five keywords required, summarizing the principal topics of the manuscript. Important keywords should also be included within the first 65 characters of the article title for search engine optimization (SEO) |
| References | APA style. References should be listed alphabetically by author's last name. In-text citations use the format '(Smith, 1989; Jones, 1992)' or 'as described by Ausubel et al. (1991)' where 'et al.' is employed for references with more than two authors. EndNote and Zotero output styles are provided by the journal |
| Peer review | Single-anonymous peer review (also called single-blind). The journal operates under a single-anonymous peer review model with a rigorous, three-tiered review process: (1) editorial board members review, (2) Wiley in-house editor with advanced degree reviews, and (3) scientific copyeditor with laboratory experience reviews |
| Submission | mc.manuscriptcentral.com/cp |
Read the Current Protocols in Microbiology 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 Current Protocols in Microbiology in under a page.
Skim two or three recent Current Protocols Microbiol 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 Current Protocols in Microbiology journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Do one focused pass against the Current Protocols in Microbiology guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through ScholarOne (Manuscript Central).