1. Scope of AI Use
Authors may use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (e.g., ChatGPT, Grammarly, or other Large Language Models) to enhance the readability, grammar, and clarity of their manuscript.
AI tools must not be relied upon to generate or replace the authors’ original scientific reasoning, including hypotheses, experimental designs, data analyses, scientific conclusions, or recommendations related to microbiology, biotechnology, metabolites, or their applications.
2. Human Oversight and Accountability
Authors are fully responsible for the accuracy, integrity, originality, and scientific validity of their manuscript. All AI-generated content must be thoroughly reviewed and edited to correct inaccuracies, biases, or incomplete information, particularly when addressing microbiology, biotechnology, metabolomics, health, medicine, agriculture, environmental applications, or data-driven scientific insights.
3. Mandatory Disclosure
Authors must disclose the use of generative AI or AI-assisted tools in the manuscript. Include a statement in the "Declaration of Using Generative AI" section using the following format:
"During the preparation of this work, the author(s) used [NAME OF TOOL/SERVICE, VERSION] for [SPECIFIC PURPOSE, e.g., improving language clarity]. After using this tool, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and accept full responsibility for the content of the publication."
This disclosure will appear in the published article to ensure transparency with readers, reviewers, and editors.
4. Authorship Restrictions
Generative AI tools or AI-assisted technologies cannot be listed as authors or co-authors. Authorship is limited to individuals who meet the journal's authorship criteria.
Authors must confirm they have approved the final manuscript and agree to its submission to Microbiology, Metabolites and Biotechnology (MMB).
5. Restrictions on AI-Generated Images and Figures
The use of generative AI to create, fabricate, or substantially modify figures, images, microscopy images, graphical abstracts, or biological illustrations is not permitted, as this could compromise the scientific integrity of visual data critical to microbiology and biotechnology research.
If AI tools are used for minor image adjustments (e.g., enhancing clarity), authors must describe the process in the Methods section, including the tool name, version, and manufacturer, and provide pre-AI-adjusted versions upon editorial request.
6. Data and Research Integrity
When AI or machine-learning methods constitute part of the research methodology, authors must describe the algorithms, software, model versions, parameters, validation procedures, and any training datasets (where applicable) in sufficient detail to ensure reproducibility.
7. Peer Review and Editorial Process
Reviewers and editors must not upload confidential manuscript content into publicly accessible generative AI systems without authorization.
Authors are encouraged to report any concerns about inappropriate AI use during the review process to the editorial team of Microbiology, Metabolites and Biotechnology (MMB).
8. Exclusions
These guidelines do not apply to conventional reference management software (e.g., EndNote Zotero), statistical software (e.g. R, SPSS, SAS, Stata), or bioinformatics software used for scientific analyses that do not generate textual or visual content.
9. Confidentiality and Data Privacy
Authors should ensure that confidential, proprietary, unpublished, or personally identifiable information is not uploaded into publicly accessible AI systems if doing so would violate ethical, legal, institutional, or contractual obligations.
AI tools should not be cited as primary references, because they do not constitute retrievable or verifiable scholarly sources.
Microbiology, Metabolites and Biotechnology (MMB) will monitor developments in AI technology and may update these guidelines to reflect best practices in microbiology, biotechnology, metabolomics, and scientific publishing.