The ISME Journal encompasses the breadth of microbial ecology and topics of particular concentration include, but are not limited to the integration of genomics and post-genomics approaches into studies of microbial activities, interactions and phylogeny; interactions among microorganisms and between microbes and their eukaryotic hosts, including plant, animal and human diseases and symbioses; understanding of biotic/abiotic interactions in situ and microbial drivers of biogeochemical cycles; integrated advances in environmental biotechnology; impacts of global change on microbial communities and processes; theoretical advances in microbial population and community ecology.