Special Issue Call for Papers

Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry (BBB) publishes high-quality papers providing chemical and biological analyses of vital phenomena exhibited by animals, plants, and microorganisms, the chemical structures and functions of their products, and related matters.

BBB Editors invite you to submit your research to the upcoming special collections listed below.

Call for Papers: Element-based Biology: Understanding How Life Harnesses Elements

Deadline for submissions: 31st October 2025

Throughout the course of evolution, organisms on Earth have developed sophisticated strategies to utilize naturally occurring elements. While the specific elements employed differ among species, extant life forms are known to utilize approximately 20 elements. Emerging evidence suggests that the repertoire of elements used has shifted over evolutionary time and, in certain contexts, elemental substitution may occur. Recent advances have begun to elucidate both the diversity of elemental utilization and the molecular mechanisms underlying it.

A comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationship between life and elemental usage necessitates an interdisciplinary approach, integrating perspectives from the life sciences, geochemistry, and evolutionary biology.

Against this background, the present special issue, entitled “Element-based Biology: Understanding How Life Harnesses Elements,” invites contributions from a wide range of disciplines. We welcome manuscripts that explore the diversity and molecular basis of elemental utilization across molecular, cellular, and organismal levels, thereby advancing our understanding of the dynamic interplay between biological systems and elemental composition.

How to submit

Authors who wish to submit a paper to the special issue should mention this in the cover letter at submission stage, and select the designated special issue title during the submission process. Submissions should be original research only (i.e. Review papers not accepted). Please note that accepted papers may not be included in the special issue if the review process extends beyond the production deadline for the issue.

Call for Papers: The Intersection of Basic and Applied Microbiology

Deadline for submissions: 31st October 2025

Applied microbiology is a research field that has significantly contributed to the development of agricultural chemistry. It helps us understand the roles of beneficial microbes at the molecular level, forming the scientific foundation and practical applications for this field. However, there are concerns that as agricultural chemistry has expanded and diversified over the past century, applied microbiology—especially prokaryotic microbiology—has been misunderstood as 'outdated.' This misunderstanding has led to a decrease in the number of researchers focusing on prokaryotes.

If we underestimate applied microbiology, in all likelihood, the entire future of agricultural chemistry is in danger of decline. To address this critical issue, we organized a symposium at the JSBBA2025 conference in Sapporo, Hokkaido. This event aimed to celebrate the joys of prokaryotic research and explore the possibilities of applied research. We hoped to inspire many young researchers to rediscover the significance of applied microbiology, particularly about prokaryotes, and encourage them to contribute to its future development.

This special issue invites submissions that explore the intersection of basic research and advancements in applied microbiology. We welcome manuscripts focused on microorganisms, particularly prokaryotes, for producing beneficial substances and their applications in sustainable agriculture and health promotion. Topics of interest encompass a range of research from fundamental studies to applied research, including physiological, biochemical, and genetic investigations of microorganisms for biotechnological production and analytical methods.

This issue is to gather and highlight innovative research that broadens the scope of this field. Contributions should provide new insights into the biotechnological strategies and promote a deeper understanding and development of sustainable solutions.

How to submit

Authors who wish to submit a paper to the special issue should mention this in the cover letter at submission stage, and select the designated special issue title during the submission process. Submissions should be original research only (i.e. Review papers not accepted). Please note that accepted papers may not be included in the special issue if the review process extends beyond the production deadline for the issue.

Ready to submit?

For guidelines on preparing your manuscript, see our author guidelines.
Manuscripts should be submitted to BBB’s submissions site.