Instructions for authors

Guidelines for Authors

I. Scope and General Policy

Central European Journal of Immunology (CEJI) is an official journal of the Polish Society of Experimental and Clinical Immunology. The journal was established to serve as a platform for the dissemination of high-quality research and advancements in the field of basic and clinical immunology. The journal seeks to facilitate the exchange of knowledge among researchers, clinicians, and academics worldwide, fostering collaboration and innovation in understanding the immune system and its interactions with pathogens, involvement in the development and progression of diseases, as well as the development of new therapeutics. Central European Journal of Immunology prioritizes fair and rapid review processes, leading to prompt publication.

CEJI publishes original research, letters (short communications), case reports, and reviews of literature that contribute to advancing our understanding of the immune system and its role in health and disease. The journal encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and submissions from researchers across diverse fields, including immunology, microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, pharmacology, and clinical medicine.

CEJI covers a broad spectrum of topics, including but not limited to:

1. Immunological Mechanisms: Investigations into the cellular and molecular mechanisms, including innate and adaptive immunity, immunological memory, antigen presentation, immune cell communication, and control of immune cell function.
2. Immune System Development and Regulation: Studies exploring the development, maturation, and regulation of the immune system in health and disease, including the role of cytokines, chemokines, and other signaling molecules.
3. Host-Pathogen Interactions: Research elucidating the interactions between the immune system and pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, with a focus on understanding pathogen evasion strategies and host defense mechanisms.
4. Clinical Immunology: Investigations into the immunological basis of diseases, autoimmune disorders, allergies, immune deficiencies, and cancer, among others, aim to uncover novel therapeutic targets and treatment strategies.
5. Immunomodulation and Therapeutics: Studies on immunomodulatory agents, vaccines, immunotherapies, and treatment approaches targeting immune-related disorders, including cancer immunotherapy, allergen-specific immunotherapy, and transplantation immunology.
6. Immune System in Health and Aging: Research assessing the impact of aging, lifestyle factors, and environmental influences on immune function and susceptibility to diseases, with implications for personalized medicine and public health interventions.
7. Translational Immunology: Translational research bridges the gap between basic immunology discoveries and clinical applications, with a focus on advancing diagnostics, prognostics, and therapeutics for immune-mediated disorders.
8. New Methods and Assays: Innovations in immunological techniques and significant modifications to existing tools and computational approaches, including high-throughput methods, single-cell analysis, omics technologies, and bioinformatics, are driving progress in immunology research.
9. Comparative Immunology: Comparative studies exploring the immune systems of different species, including vertebrates and invertebrates, to understand evolutionary aspects, immune system diversity, and adaptation to diverse environmental challenges.

CEJI adheres to the highest standards of data integrity, transparency, and reproducibility, following the principles applied by ICMJE, COPE, WAME, Council of Science Editors. Authors are required to present data with appropriate methodological detail, ensure clarity of figures and tables, and, where applicable, provide access to primary data and supplementary materials.

II. Language and Formatting
· Only manuscripts that have not been published and are not under consideration elsewhere will be reviewed.
· Every manuscript that qualifies for external peer review will be screened using the iThenticate plagiarism detection system. Any attempt at plagiarism will result in the blacklisting of the authors and permanent exclusion from publication across the entire publishing portfolio.
· Manuscripts must be written in English (US spelling), using clear and concise scientific language.
· All submissions should be formatted with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, A4 format, portrait orientation, and line numbering throughout.
· Pages must be numbered consecutively.
· Authors for whom English is not a native language are encouraged to seek professional language editing prior to submission.

III. Manuscript Submission
All manuscripts and related files should be submitted electronically via the CEJI submission system here.
Each submission must include:
a) Cover Letter – briefly describe the significance of the study, declare that it has not been published elsewhere, and outline its fit within the scope of CEJI. Cover letter template can be downloaded here

Position Papers, the official letter of approval from the board of the relevant scientific society must be attached to the Cover Letter.
b) Manuscript File (Word or LaTeX format).
c) Figures and Tables (as separate high-resolution files) in
d) Supplementary Materials, if applicable.
e) Author Declarations (conflicts of interest, ethics approval, funding sources).
f) Authors have the option to include a Graphical Abstract when submitting a original article. The graphical abstract should provide a concise, visual summary of the study’s main findings or conceptual framework. It must be submitted as a separate high-resolution file (minimum 300 dpi) in TIFF, PNG, or JPEG format and should be designed to be self-explanatory without additional text.

IV. Ethical and Legal Considerations
• Human studies must include a statement confirming approval by an institutional ethics committee and that informed consent was obtained from all participants, in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.
Example: This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the [full name of the Ethics Committee, institution, country] (approval number: XXXXX). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to inclusion in the study.
• Animal studies must comply with institutional and national guidelines and state the approval number.
Example: All animal procedures were carried out in compliance with institutional and national regulations for the care and use of laboratory animals and were approved by the [full name of Animal Ethics Committee] (protocol approval number: XXXXX).
• Data integrity and reproducibility are essential. Authors should provide sufficient methodological detail to enable replication.
• Conflict of Interest and Funding: Authors must disclose all potential conflicts and sources of financial support.
Examples:
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
This work was supported by [funding organization name, grant number].
Author XX has received research support from […]. The remaining authors declare no competing interests.
• Plagiarism and redundant publication are strictly prohibited.
• Use of AI tools: Any use of generative AI (text or image) in manuscript preparation must be transparently declared.
Examples:
Generative artificial intelligence tools (e.g., ChatGPT) were used only to improve the clarity of language and grammar. No AI-generated content altered the scientific interpretation. The authors take full responsibility for the integrity and originality of the manuscript.
No generative AI tools were used in the writing, image processing, or data analysis of this manuscript.
• For all figures containing Western blot images, authors are required to provide full, uncropped, and unprocessed pictures of all blots as an Appendix file, separate from the Supplementary Materials. These files must clearly indicate the regions used in the final figures and include visible molecular weight markers. The appendix should be labeled as “Uncropped Western Blots” and referenced in the Materials and Methods section. The appendix will be available online in supplementary materials.

V. Data Presentation and Quality
Following high-quality standards, authors must ensure that:
· Figures must be of high resolution (minimum 300 dpi), with clear labels, scales, and legible text. A detailed legend must accompany each figure and table. Figures should be stand-alone, meaning that all symbols, abbreviations, and experimental conditions must be fully explained within the figure legend so the figure can be understood independently of the main text.
Figure legends must be stand-alone, meaning that a reader should be able to fully understand each figure without referring to the main text. The Figure Legends section must be inserted at the end of the manuscript, immediately after the References, OR Submitted as a separate standalone file named "Figure_Legends.doc(x)".

Requirements for each legend:
- Provide the Title of the figure describing what the figure presents.
- Describe the figure comprehensively and clearly explain what is shown.
- Define all abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols used in the figure.
- Include statistical information, including: type of statistical test performed, significance indicators (p-values, symbols such as *, **, etc.), sample size (n), for quantitative data, indicate whether values represent mean ± SD, median and IQR, SEM, etc.
- For microscopy images, include scale bar information.
- Use consistent numbering (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.).

· The Methods section must be described in sufficient detail to allow full reproducibility. All experimental procedures, protocols, and analytical approaches should be provided comprehensively, including detailed information on the clinical characteristics of the study cohorts, the reagents used, and any relevant methodological parameters. For all antibodies, authors are required to indicate the manufacturer, catalog number, lot number, and working dilution. A summary table listing all reagents, antibodies, and kits used,along with their suppliers, catalog numbers, and lot information, must be included to facilitate transparency and reproducibility.
· Data must be presented with appropriate statistical analysis, including the number of biological replicates, the type of statistical tests, and the significance thresholds. Graphical data presentation should clearly display data variability and distribution. Authors are encouraged to use either box-and-whisker plots (or modifications) or scatter plots showing all individual data points, with indication of the mean or median, depending on the statistical test applied. Use of only summary bars (e.g., mean ± SEM) without underlying data points should be avoided.
· For large-scale omics datasets (e.g., transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics), data should be deposited in a recognized public repository (e.g., GEO, ArrayExpress, PRIDE, or MetaboLights) and accompanied by the corresponding accession number in the manuscript. Data should be made publicly available upon publication or upon reasonable request.
· When using software tools for exploratory or large-scale data analysis that rely on regularly updated databases (e.g., MetaCore, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis [IPA], Gene Ontology [GO], KEGG, Reactome), authors must clearly state the software name, version (if possible), and the exact date when the analysis was performed. This information ensures reproducibility, as database content and annotations may change over time. The description should appear in the Materials and Methods section.
· Authors who use datasets obtained from public repositories (e.g., GEO, ArrayExpress, PRIDE, MetaboLights, or other databases) must clearly identify the source and accession number of each dataset within the Materials and Methods section. The manuscript should include a brief description of how the data were selected, processed, and analyzed, ensuring transparency and reproducibility.
· When applicable, authors must also cite the original publication(s) that generated the dataset and acknowledge the data contributors according to the repository’s citation policy.

VI. Supplementary Materials
Authors may include supplementary materials to enhance transparency and completeness. These may include extended data figures, tables, videos, or datasets.
· For Original Articles, Case Reports, Reviews, and Position Papers – supplementary material should not extend 15 pages.
· For Letters to the Editor – supplementary material should not extend 5 pages.
· Each supplementary Figure or Table must be clearly labeled and referenced in the main text. Supplementary figures should be numbered consecutively as Supplementary Figure S1, S2, etc., and supplementary tables as Supplementary Table S1, S2, etc. All supplementary items must include descriptive titles and legends to ensure they are fully interpretable on their own.

VII. Manuscript Types and Specific Requirements

7.1. Original Articles
Maximum display items: 5 (figures and/or tables combined).
Recommended length: up to 5000 words (excluding abstract, references, and figure legends).
Structure:

• Title page (title, author names, affiliations, corresponding author contact)
• Abstract (≤300 words, structured: Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions)
• Keywords (3–6)
• Key massage/messages (1-5)
• Introductionv
  
• Materials and Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Acknowledgements
• Funding
• Conflicts of Interest
• References
• Graphical Abstract (OPTION)

Data quality and reproducibility must be clearly demonstrated. Authors need to follow appropriate reporting guidelines (CONSORT, STROBE, ARRIVE, PRISMA, etc., as applicable).
Supplementary data are encouraged when necessary to support the findings (should not exceed 15 pages)

7.2. Letter to the Editor
Maximum display items: 2 (figures and/or tables combined).
Recommended length: up to 1500 words
References: up to 15
Structure:

• Title
• Authors and affiliations
• Main text (concise and directly addressing the issue or comment), starting with “To the Editor”
• References

Letters may:

• Discuss recently published CEJI articles,
• Present brief, novel findings (original data),
• Raise scientific or methodological points of general interest.

Supplementary materials (not exceeding 5 pages) may be included if necessary to clarify or support the main text.

7.3. Case Reports
Maximum display items: 2 (figures and/or tables combined).
Recommended length: up to 2000 words
Structure:

• Title page (title, author names, affiliations, corresponding author contact)
• Keywords
• Introduction
• Case Description
• Discussion
• Ethics approval and patient consent
• Funding and conflicts of interest
• References (up to 15)

Clinical images and histological figures must maintain patient anonymity and include appropriate scale bars.
Written patient consent for publication is mandatory.

7.4. Review Papers
Maximum display items: 6 (figures and/or tables combined).
Recommended length: up to 6000 words
Abstract: ≤300 words (unstructured)
References: up to 150

Structure:

• Title page (title, author names, affiliations, corresponding author contact)
• Keywords
• 1-5 Key massages
• Introduction
• Main Text
• Acknowledgements, Funding, Conflicts
• References

Reviews should provide a comprehensive, critical, and up-to-date analysis of the field.
Inclusion of summary boxes
Supplementary materials (up to 15 pages) may be added to include additional tables, graphics, or datasets.

VIII. References and Citation Style
The bibliography in the text should be quoted in [square parantheses]. Ethical consideration will be taken into account in the assessment of papers which must obey the World Medical Association code of ethics, known as the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 1983. Do not use patients’ names, initials, or hospital numbers, especially in illustrative material.

The bibliography in the text should be quoted in [square parantheses]. References should be numbered consecutively in the order in which they are first mentioned in the text and should contain the names and initials of the authors (list all authors if four or less, otherwise list the first four and add et al.), title, abbreviation of the journal (according to Index Medicus), year, volume and pages. The chapters of books or monographs should be arranged as follows: name and initials of the author(s), title of the article, title of the book, editors, volume, editorial office, place, year, pages. Authors should use the following examples as guidance:

Articles: Jaffe RC, Herman L (1997): Human immunoglobulin subclasses. Diagn Clin Immunol 16: 110-118,

Book: French MAH: Immunoglobulins in health and disease. MTP Press. Lancaster, UK, 1986.

Chapter in a book: Brown JD: Early events in the infection of the arthropod gut by pathogenic insect viruses. In: Invertebrate Immunity. Maramorosch K, Shope RE (eds.). Academic Press. New York, San Francisco, London. 1976; 80-111.

Avoid citing a ‘personal communication’ unless it provides essential information not available from a public source.

IX. Figures and Tables
· Each figure and table should be numbered consecutively (Figure 1, Table 1, etc.).
· Figure legends must be self-explanatory and provided at the end of the manuscript text.
· Figures must be submitted as separate files in TIFF, PNG, or JPEG format (minimum 300 dpi).
· Text and labels should remain legible when reduced to 75% size.
· For microscopic images, include scale bars and indicate magnification.

X. Peer Review and Revision Process
All manuscripts submitted to the Central European Journal of Immunology (CEJI) undergo an initial editorial screening to evaluate their relevance, scientific quality, and compliance with the journal’s scope and formatting requirements. At this stage, the Editor may:
· reject the manuscript as unsuitable,
· request to change the manuscript format
· request to revise the manuscript to comply with the Guidelines for Authors
· return the submission for technical or formal correction before it proceeds to external peer review. Such requests aim to ensure clarity, completeness, and compliance with publication standards.
Manuscripts considered suitable are then subjected to single-blind peer review by at least two independent experts in the field. Before being sent for review, each manuscript is checked for plagiarism using the iThenticate® system.

Editorial decisions following review may include:
· Accept
· Minor revision
· Major revision
· Reject

Authors receiving a revision decision are required to submit:

1. A revised version of the manuscript with changes clearly marked (tracked changes or highlighted text).
2. A detailed point-by-point response letter addressing each reviewer’s comment. Each response should specify the corresponding modification in the manuscript or provide a reasoned justification when a change was not made. Please use a templated [download here]
Revised manuscripts should be resubmitted within the timeframe specified by the handling editor, typically 30 days for minor revisions and 90 days for major revisions. Extensions may be granted upon justified request.
Substantially revised manuscripts may be re-evaluated by the original reviewers to ensure that all concerns have been adequately addressed.
Failure to submit a revised manuscript within the given deadline may result in withdrawal of the submission from further consideration. In case more time for revision is needed, please contact the Editorial Office.
Once accepted, manuscripts proceed to production and are made available in Early View as an unformatted accepted version. The final, formatted version will be published online and subsequently included in a printed issue of the journal.

XI. Post-Acceptance
· Accepted manuscripts will be made available in Early View with DOI as an unformatted accepted version immediately after acceptance and processing of the publication fee.
• Accepted manuscripts will undergo language editing and production formatting.
• Proofs will be sent to the corresponding author for approval. Only minor corrections are permitted at this stage.
• The final, formatted version of the article will be published online and subsequently included in a printed issue of the journal.




Please send inquiries regarding the editorial process (before manuscript acceptance) to: ceji@umb.edu.pl

Please send inquiries regarding publication deadlines and payment to: e.krawczyk@termedia.pl