Infectious disease Professor appointed Editor-in-Chief of new microbiology journal

September 2025: After an international search, Professor José Vázquez-Boland has been appointed the Editor-in-Chief of Animal Microbiology, a new journal launched by the American Society for Microbiology.

Jose V-B — Professor José Vázquez-Boland, new Editor-in-Chief of Animal Microbiology.

Established in 1899, the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) is the oldest and largest single life science membership organization in the world.

It is composed of more than 37,000 scientists, educators and health professionals who are dedicated to promoting and advancing microbial sciences around the world.

Newest journal from ASM

Animal Microbiology is the newest of the ASM's primary research journals.

ASM Animal Microbiology will provide a dedicated forum for advancing research on animal-associated microbes—including prokaryotes, viruses, fungi and protozoa—and their impact on animal and public health.

The journal is now accepting manuscript submissions and plans to publish its first articles in 2026.

First ASM Editor-in-Chief based in the UK

Professor José Vázquez-Boland is Chair of Infectious Diseases based in the Centre for Inflammation Research and the Edinburgh Medical School. A long-time ASM member, he served as an editor for mBio from 2016-2025, and was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology in 2018. He holds a veterinary medical degree and a Ph.D. in microbiology from Complutense University of Madrid.

His group investigates zoonotic facultative pathogens, focusing on molecular mechanisms of the environment-to-host transition and intracellular parasitism, using Listeria and Rhodococcus equi as models.

They also study bacterial virulence and genomics, pathogen evolution, and antimicrobial resistance. José describes himself as an “all-terrain” microbiologist, equally at ease exploring molecular mechanisms at atomic resolution or addressing issues in bacterial taxonomy and nomenclature.

My vision as Editor-in-Chief of the new ASM journal Animal Microbiology is to establish it as the leading publication for One Health microbiology at the interface of animals, people, and the environment. I am [especially] proud to be the first Editor-in-Chief based in the UK in the more than 100-year history of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), which has shaped microbial sciences for generations.

Strong focus on One Health

Under Vázquez-Boland’s leadership, ASM Animal Microbiology will foster collaboration among microbiologists, veterinarians, medical and public health researchers and other experts.

With a strong One Health approach, the journal will explore microbe–animal host–ecosystem interactions, with particular attention to infectious diseases of public health, veterinary and economic importance.

Dr. Vázquez-Boland brings a rare combination of expertise in veterinary medicine, medical sciences, microbiology research and policy. He also extends ASM’s global reach, with strong networks across Europe and the UK, which will help build ASM Animal Microbiology into a truly international publication.

Newest journal from ASM

First ASM Editor-in-Chief based in the UK

Strong focus on One Health

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