Announcements

Conference: The 13th Congress of the Chinese Society for Plant Pathology
Date: 18–21 August 2026
Location: Wuhan, China

MDPI will be attending the 13th Congress of the Chinese Society for Plant Pathology as an exhibitor, welcoming researchers from diverse backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas.

Organized by the Chinese Society for Plant Pathology and co-organized by Huazhong Agricultural University, the Hubei Society of Plant Pathology, and other supporting institutions, the meeting aims to strengthen academic exchange, promote the high-quality development of plant pathology in China, and complete the election of the Society’s new Council and Board of Supervisors.

Researchers, professionals, and graduate students in plant pathology are warmly invited to participate. We look forward to welcoming you to Wuhan in August 2026!

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• CIMB;
• Plants;
• Agronomy;
• Horticulturae;
• Microorganisms;
• JoF;
• IJPB;
• Agriculture;
• Life;
• Metabolites;
• Seeds;
• IJMS.

If you are planning to attend this conference, please do not hesitate to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information, please visit http://www.cspp.org.cn/newsdata/202649201445.html.

Conference: The 17th National Microbial Resources Symposium
Date: 20–25 July 2026
Location: Changchun, China

MDPI will be attending the 17th National Microbial Resources Symposium as an exhibitor. We welcome researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas with us.

Microorganisms are Earth’s oldest and most diverse life forms, playing an irreplaceable role in agriculture, healthcare, energy, and environmental protection. Recent advances in microbial resource research have led to explosive growth in new species and functions, reshaping the discipline and becoming a global strategic priority.

Black soil is a cornerstone of China’s food security. To advance microbial resource utilization and innovation, the 17th National Symposium on Microbial Resources will be held in Changchun, Jilin, under the following theme—"Microbial Resources: Protecting the Blue Planet and Safeguarding the Black Soil Granary”.

The symposium will bring together experts and young researchers to discuss key topics including germplasm resource exploration, functional regulation, intelligent screening, synthetic design, and industrialization pathways in the big data era. We warmly welcome scholars, industry professionals, and graduate students to join us in Changchun.

A list of just a few of the cutting-edge topics:

1. Microbial Diversity and a Habitable Earth;
2. Microbial Resource Banks and New Productivity Scenarios;
3. Synthetic Microbiology and Intelligent Manufacturing;
4. Emerging Technologies, Methods, and Theories in Microbial Resources.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Microorganisms;
• Microbiology Research;
• Soil Systems;
• Fermentation;
• Methods and Protocols;
• Bacteria;
• Journal of Fungi.

If you are planning to attend this conference, please do not hesitate to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/NKbe3_nScO3J0drnOX1wiQ.

Our portfolio of journals available for publishing up-to-date research in immediate open access format has been further expanded. In June 2026, eleven new journals released their inaugural issues and two transferred journals released their first issue as part of MDPI, covering the subjects of environmental & earth sciences, chemistry & materials science, public health & healthcare, engineering, medicine & pharmacology, and biology & life sciences. 

We extend our gratitude to the Editors-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and Editorial Board Members who will shape the future course of these new journals. Each journal is dedicated to upholding strong editorial standards through a thorough peer review process, enabling impactful open access scholarship. 

Please feel free to browse and discover more about the new journals below. 

We would like to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. If you would like to create a new journal, you are welcome to send an application here or contact the New Journal Committee (newjournal-committee@mdpi.com).

Peer review is the invisible foundation of academic progress. The 2025 MDPI Top Reviewers are some of the key experts who helped build it.

We are honored to recognize 1000 individuals from our global community of 210,000 reviewers across 67 countries and territories—chosen for their commitment to rigorous, constructive peer review and the consistency of their contributions throughout 2025.

The Top Reviewers provided constructive and impartial feedback that makes research stronger and more impactful, and we are grateful for it.

The names of these reviewers are listed below in alphabetical order by first name:

(Note: we respected all privacy preferences, with part of nominees opting for limited attribution.)

To keep you informed of recent advancements in the study of Candida and candidiasis, the Journal of Fungi (JoF, ISSN 2309-608X) is pleased to present a selection of our most highly cited papers published in the years 2024 and 2025.

We hope that you find inspiration in these cutting-edge studies.

1. “A Systematic Review of Denture Stomatitis: Predisposing Factors, Clinical Features, Etiology, and Global Candida spp. Distribution”
by Mirjana Perić, Biljana Miličić, Jovana Kuzmanović Pfićer, Rade Živković and Valentina Arsić Arsenijević
J. Fungi 2024, 10(5), 328; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10050328
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/10/5/328

2. “Global Epidemiology of Invasive Infections by Uncommon Candida Species: A Systematic Review”
by Sandra Pinho, Isabel M. Miranda and Sofia Costa-de-Oliveira
J. Fungi 2024, 10(8), 558; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10080558
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/10/8/558

3. “Associations between Genomic Variants and Antifungal Susceptibilities in the Archived Global Candida auris Population”
by Yue Wang and Jianping Xu
J. Fungi 2024, 10(1), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10010086
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/10/1/86

4. “Potential Environmental Reservoirs of Candida auris: A Systematic Review”
by Isabel Silva, Isabel M. Miranda and Sofia Costa-de-Oliveira
J. Fungi 2024, 10(5), 336; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10050336
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/10/5/336

5. “A Mini-Review of In Vitro Data for Candida Species, Including C. auris, Isolated during Clinical Trials of Three New Antifungals: Fosmanogepix, Ibrexafungerp, and Rezafungin”
by Ana Espinel-Ingroff and Nathan P. Wiederhold
J. Fungi 2024, 10(5), 362; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10050362
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/10/5/362

6. “In Vivo Efficacy of Rezafungin, Anidulafungin, Caspofungin, and Micafungin against Four Candida auris Clades in a Neutropenic Mouse Bloodstream Infection Model”
by Dávid Balázsi, Zoltán Tóth, Jeffrey B. Locke, Andrew M. Borman, Lajos Forgács, Noémi Balla, Fruzsina Kovács, Renátó Kovács, Chiaki Amano, Tugba Ilay Baran et al.
J. Fungi 2024, 10(9), 617; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10090617
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/10/9/617

7. “Microbiological Relevance of Candida in Urine Cultures”
by Leticia Castellano-Sánchez, Antonio Rosales-Castillo, Raquel Marcos-Rodríguez, María Carmen Olvera-Porcel, José María Navarro-Marí and José Gutiérrez-Fernández
J. Fungi 2025, 11(7), 483; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11070483
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/7/483

8. “Pediatric Candida Manifestations in the Orofacial Region: A Retrospective Analysis of Different Forms, Risk Factors and Species Distribution”
by Sara Carina Kakoschke, Sara Fleschutz, Elisabeth Ruff, Karl Dichtl, Moritz Groeger, Carola Schoen, Sven Otto and Tamara Katharina Kakoschke
J. Fungi 2025, 11(5), 363; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11050363
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/5/363

9. “In Vitro Assessment of Fluconazole and Cyclosporine A Antifungal Activities: A Promising Drug Combination Against Different Candida Species”
by Juan Daniel Carton, Iñigo de-la-Fuente, Elena Sevillano, Nerea Jauregizar, Guillermo Quindós, Elena Eraso and Andrea Guridi
J. Fungi 2025, 11(2), 133; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11020133
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/2/133

10. “The Biotherapeutic Potential of a Novel Probiotic Kluyveromyces marxianus Isolated from a Sourdough Starter Against Vaginal Candida albicans Strains”
by Annalisa Buonanno, Marianna Imparato, Angela Maione, Federica Carraturo, Emilia Galdiero, Marco Guida and Elisabetta de Alteriis
J. Fungi 2025, 11(2), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11020147
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/2/147

To keep you informed of recent advancements in the study of Aspergillus and aspergillosis, the Journal of Fungi (JoF, ISSN 2309-608X) is pleased to present a selection of our most highly cited papers published in the years 2024 and 2025.

We hope that you find inspiration in these cutting-edge studies.

1. “Aspergillus oryzae as a Cell Factory: Research and Applications in Industrial Production”
by Zeao Sun, Yijian Wu, Shihua Long, Sai Feng, Xiao Jia, Yan Hu, Maomao Ma, Jingxin Liu and Bin Zeng
J. Fungi 2024, 10(4), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10040248
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/10/4/248

2. “Exploring Mechanisms of Antifungal Lipopeptide Iturin A from Bacillus against Aspergillus niger”
by Shiyi Wang, Min Xu, Ye Han and Zhijiang Zhou
J. Fungi 2024, 10(3), 172; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10030172
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/10/3/172

3. “Synthetic Biology Tools for Engineering Aspergillus oryzae”
by Hui Yang, Chaonan Song, Chengwei Liu and Pengchao Wang
J. Fungi 2024, 10(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10010034
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/10/1/34

4. “Aspergillus Outbreak in an Intensive Care Unit: Source Analysis with Whole Genome Sequencing and Short Tandem Repeats”
by Stephan J. P. Hiel, Amber C. A. Hendriks, Jos J. A. Eijkenboom, Thijs Bosch, Jordy P. M. Coolen, Willem J. G. Melchers, Paul Anröchte, Simone M. T. Camps, Paul E. Verweij, Jianhua Zhang et al.
J. Fungi 2024, 10(1), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10010051
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/10/1/51

5. “Emerging Risk Factors for Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis: A Narrative Review”
by Ahmed Elkhapery, Mariam Fatima and Ayman O. Soubani
J. Fungi 2025, 11(8), 555; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11080555
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/8/555

6. “Comprehensive Review of Environmental Surveillance for Azole-Resistant Aspergillus fumigatus: A Practical Roadmap for Hospital Clinicians and Infection Control Teams”
by Masato Tashiro, Yuichiro Nakano, Tomoyuki Shirahige, Satoshi Kakiuchi, Ayumi Fujita, Takeshi Tanaka, Takahiro Takazono and Koichi Izumikawa
J. Fungi 2025, 11(2), 96; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11020096
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/2/96

7. “Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Immunocompromised Critically Ill Patients: Prevalence, Risk Factors, Clinical Features and Diagnosis—A Narrative Review”
by Maria Grazia Bocci, Laura Cascarano, Giulia Capecchi, Antonio Lesci, Valerio Sabatini, Dorotea Rubino, Giulia Valeria Stazi, Gabriele Garotto, Stefania Carrara, Antonella Vulcano et al.
J. Fungi 2025, 11(9), 617; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11090617
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/9/617

8. “Azole-Resistant Aspergillus fumigatus: Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment Considerations”
by Anna Zubovskaia
J. Fungi 2025, 11(10), 731; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11100731
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/10/731

9. “Invasive Aspergillosis in the Intensive Care Unit”
by Anna Zubovskaia and Jose A. Vazquez
J. Fungi 2025, 11(1), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11010070
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/1/70

10. “Aspergillus in Children and Young People with Cystic Fibrosis: A Narrative Review”
by Emily Chesshyre, Eva Wooding, Emily Sey and Adilia Warris
J. Fungi 2025, 11(3), 210; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11030210
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/3/210

Impact Factors measure how often articles in scientific journals are cited—specifically, the average number of citations received in a given year by articles published in that journal over the previous two years, as tracked in the Web of Science. For researchers, the number answers a practical question: how often is work published in this journal being picked up and built upon?

The metric is assigned to the journal as a whole, not to individual articles. A high Impact Factor tells you something useful about a journal's place in its field; it tells you less about any single paper within it.

For a complementary, article-level view, MDPI lists an Altmetric score on each article page. Where the Impact Factor tracks academic citations, the Altmetric score captures broader online attention: how an article is being shared, discussed, and referenced beyond the journal literature. Together, they offer two different ways of asking the same question: is this research reaching people?

With 2025 CiteScores from Scopus published a few weeks ago, Clarivate has now released this year's Journal Impact Factors in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR).

254 MDPI Journals Saw a Rise in Impact Factor

This year's JCR include 330 MDPI journals across a wide range of disciplines. Of these, 231 journals are placed in the top 50% (Q1 or Q2) of their respective subject categories, a result that spans fields as different as materials science, public health, environmental studies, and mathematics. 78 journals hold a top-quartile position (Q1), and 33 journals have a JIF of 5.0 or above.

• 330 journals earned a Journal Impact Factor (JIF)
• 29 journals earned a first JIF
• 254 journals had an increase in JIF
• 71% of ranked journals are in Q1 or Q2

For the full metrics on any MDPI journal, visit our Web of Science journals overview page or a journal's individual statistics page.

29 MDPI Journals Received Their First Journal Impact Factor

A first Impact Factor is a confirmation for an emerging journal. It marks the point at which a journal has been publishing long enough, and cited broadly enough, to enter the formal record of scientific influence. For the research communities those journals serve, it signals that the work being published is being read and built upon.

This year, 29 MDPI journals received a Journal Impact Factor for the first time, across a range of emerging and established research areas. Each represents years of editorial development and peer review—recognized in 2026 for the first time in the JCR.

This is also part of a longer shift in how science gets indexed. When the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) launched in 2016, 24 MDPI journals were included. By 2024 that number had grown to over 200, reflecting a broader change in the visibility of open access publishing within major citation tracking systems, not just at MDPI but across the sector.

Open Access with Impact

MDPI journals have received a total of 25.2 million citations in Web of Science. That figure matters less as a measure of MDPI's reach and more as a measure of what happens when research is freely available: it gets found, read, and used. Open access is only meaningful if the work actually travels and citations are one indicator that it does.

More than 4.6 million authors have published with MDPI. That breadth, across disciplines, institutions, and geographies, is what makes open access at this scale worth doing.

Thank You to the MDPI Scholarly Community

These results belong to the people who do the actual work: the Editors-in-Chief who set the standards, the Editorial Board Members and reviewers who hold them, and the authors who choose open access for their research. The numbers in the Journal Citation Reports are the downstream effect of decisions made at the desk, in the review, and at submission. Thank you for making them.

Data: 2025 Journal Impact Factors, Journal Citation Reports™ (Clarivate, 2026)

We would like to invite you to attend XXIII Jornadas de Biologia de Leveduras, which will be held in Hotel Termas da Cúria, on 9 and 10 October 2026.

In this year’s conference, we are broadening the scope of the meeting to include the participation of our colleagues working on fungi other than yeasts. We intend to create new synergies, exchange ideas, and share the latest knowledge across the following topics:

• Genomics and evolution;
• Biotechnology and synthetic biology;
• Health;
• Fermented foods and beverages;
• Drug and stress resistance;
• Adaptation, cell death and ageing.

We warmly welcome participants from around the world to attend the XXIII Jornadas de Biologia de Leveduras. For further details, please visit the following website: https://skyros-congressos.pt/leveduras/.

The 2025 CiteScore metrics have been officially released by Scopus, and the results confirm what has become a consistent pattern for MDPI's journal portfolio: broad recognition across disciplines, steady improvement across the majority of ranked titles, and a growing presence at the top of subject category rankings.

CiteScore, published annually by Elsevier's Scopus database, measures the average citations received by articles published in a journal over a four-year window. As a complement to the Journal Impact Factor, which uses a two-year window based on the Web of Science database, CiteScore provides an alternative, long-term perspective on citation performance.

The 365 MDPI journals in Scopus (as of May 2026) are indexed across a wide range of subject categories, ensuring that open access research remains highly discoverable to a global readership through one of the most widely used platforms in academic publishing.

Data Summary (2025 CiteScores)

• New Additions: 41 MDPI journals received a CiteScore for the first time.
• Trending Upward: 234 of 322 previously ranked journals (73%) saw an increase in their CiteScore compared to last year.
• High Visibility: 314 journals (86%) rank in Q1 or Q2 in at least one subject category.
• Elite Performance: 42 journals rank in the top 10% of their subject categories.

Portfolio Performance

Among the 322 journals that held a CiteScore in 2024, 234 saw an increase this year. Quartile improvements outnumbered declines across the portfolio, with 52 journals moving to a higher quartile and only 20 seeing a decline. Furthermore, no previously ranked journals were removed. The 42 journals now ranked in the top 10% of their subject categories are drawn from a strong foundation of 178 journals holding a Q1 position.

With the large majority of our indexed portfolio ranked in the top half of research fields, researchers can confidently choose MDPI to meet funder mandates for high-quality, fully compliant Open Access publishing.

Exceptional Achievements for Foods and Life

Notably, both Foods and Life achieved a 99th percentile ranking in their respective subject categories for the 2025 CiteScores. This outstanding placement positions them as leading journals in their fields and highlights the high visibility and global impact of the open access research they publish.

Journal Metrics and Beyond

Journal-level metrics describe outlets, not individual articles. An increasing number of funders and institutions—including signatories of DORA and the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment—now explicitly encourage evaluation at the article level rather than by the journal in which research appears. MDPI supports this direction: we report CiteScore alongside the Journal Impact Factor, Journal Citation Indicator, and article-level usage data because no single number captures the full reach and contribution of published research.

Thank You

These results reflect the sustained effort of thousands of editors-in-chief, editorial board members, reviewers, and authors across every field MDPI serves. The metrics are the outcome; the work is yours.