Content Types

Article

An Article is a substantial novel research study that often involves several techniques or approaches. The main text (excluding abstract, Methods, references and figure legends) is 3,000 - 4,000 words. The abstract is 150 words maximum, and is unreferenced. Articles have 6 -8 display items (figures and/or tables). An introduction (of up to 500 words) is followed by sections headed Results, Discussion, and Methods. The Results and Methods should be divided by topical subheadings; the Discussion does not contain subheadings. As a guideline, Articles allow up to 50 references.

Articles include received/accepted dates and may be accompanied by supplementary information, up to 8 Supplementary Figures, not including Supplementary Tables, Supplementary Videos or Supplementary Notes. Articles are peer reviewed.

Letter

At the editor's discretion, a Letter, which is less substantial than an article, but reports an important novel research result may be considered, especially if the article contains sufficient mechanistic insight. This format begins with an introductory paragraph (not abstract) of approximately 150 words, summarizing the background, rationale, main results and implications. This paragraph should be referenced, as in Nature style, and should be considered part of main text, so that any subsequent introductory material avoids too much redundancy with the introductory paragraph. The text is limited to 2,500 words, excluding the introductory paragraph, online Methods, references and figure legends. Letters should have no more than 5 display items (figures and/or tables). Letters are not divided by headings, except for the online Methods headings.

Letters include received/accepted dates. They may be accompanied by supplementary information. Letters are peer reviewed.

Resource

A Resource presents a large data set (such as a comprehensive list of proteins in an organelle or tissue, a genome-wide antibody library, coordinated analysis of cells or reagents by several different laboratories) of broad utility, interest and significance to the community. The main text (excluding abstract, online Methods, references and figure legends) is approximately 4,000 words. The abstract is typically 150 words, unreferenced. Resources have no more than 8 display items (figures and/or tables). An introduction (without heading) is followed by sections headed Results, Discussion and online Methods. The Results and online Methods should be divided by topical subheadings; the Discussion does not contain subheadings. References are limited to 50.

Resources include received/accepted dates. They may be accompanied by unlimited supplementary information. Resources are peer reviewed.

Technical Report

A Technical Report presents primary research data on a new technique that is likely to be influential. This format is not a review of technology but its primary report in the literature. It may involve a new biological discovery to prove the usefulness of the technique, but this is not a requirement. Technical Reports have a format broadly similar to that of Articles, though many Technical Reports are shorter than a typical Article. They begin with an unreferenced abstract (typically 150 words) followed by separate sections for introduction, Results, Discussion (with optional subheadings) and online Methods. Technical Reports should have no more than 8 display items (figures and/or tables). As a guideline, Technical Report allow up to 40 references, but this can be flexible at the editor's discretion.

Technical Reports include received/accepted dates. They may be accompanied by supplementary information. Technical Reports are peer reviewed.

Correspondence

The Correspondence section provides a forum for discussion of issues relevant to the journal’s community. A Correspondence should not exceed more than one printed page and is typically 250–500 words; it is limited to one display item and, as guideline, Correspondence allows up to 10 references. Article titles are omitted from the reference list. Titles for Correspondences are supplied by the editors. Correspondence may be peer-reviewed at the editors’ discretion. Note that Correspondence pieces are not technical comments on peer-reviewed research papers which would be considered Matters Arising.

Matters Arising

Matters Arising are exceptionally interesting and timely scientific comments and clarifications on original research papers published in Nature Immunology. These comments should ideally be based on knowledge contemporaneous with the original paper, rather than subsequent scientific developments.

For detailed information on how to submit a Matters Arising, please follow instructions here.

News and Views

News and Views are by prior arrangement only, although prospective authors are welcome to make proposals. They may be linked to articles in Nature Immunology or they may focus on papers of exceptional significance that are published elsewhere. News and Views are not peer-reviewed.

Review

A Review, which is usually commissioned, is an authoritative, balanced and scholarly survey of recent developments in a research field. The requirement for balance need not prevent authors from proposing a specific viewpoint, but if there are controversies in the field, the authors must treat them in an even–handed way. Reviews begin with an unreferenced abstract of no more than 120 words. They are normally 3,000-4,000 words long, and typically include 3-4 display items (figures, tables or boxes); illustrations are strongly encouraged. As a guideline, Reviews allow up to 100 references, with exceptions possible in special cases. Citations should be selective. The scope of a Review should be broad enough that it is not dominated by the work of a single laboratory, and particularly not by the authors' own work.

Reviews include received/accepted dates. Reviews are always peer reviewed to ensure factual accuracy, appropriate citations and scholarly balance.

Comment

Comment is a very flexible format; Comments may be on policy, science and society or purely scientific issues. The main criteria are that they should be of immediate interest to a broad readership and should be written in an accessible, non-technical style. Their length is typically 1–3 pages, although some may be longer. Because the content is variable, the format is also flexible. Comments do not normally contain primary research data, although they may present 'sociological' data (funding trends, demographics, bibliographic data, etc.). References are limited to 25, and article titles are omitted from the reference list.

Comments may be peer reviewed at the editors' discretion.

Perspective

Perspective is a new format for scholarly reviews and discussions of the primary research literature that are too technical for a Commentary but do not meet the criteria for a Review—either because the scope is too narrow, or because the author is advocating a controversial position or a speculative hypothesis or discussing work primarily from one group. Two reviews advocating opposite sides in a research controversy can be published as Perspectives. The text should not normally exceed 3000 words. As a guideline, Perspectives allow up to 50 references.

Perspectives are always peer reviewed and include received/accepted dates.