It’s not a surprise, because as the incidence of life-threatening mycotic diseases, especially those associated with immunosuppressed patients, has increased, so too has the number of basic and applied investigations of clinical cases, the etiologic agents, antifungal therapies, etc., in the broad area of medical mycology. What did surprise me however, is how quickly Medical Mycology’s impact factor and ranking has increased within the last two to three years.

The higher incidence of fungal diseases has attracted a greater and more diverse number of investigators to the field. As a result, the submissions to the journal have steadily risen, and the journal has become far more selective with respect to those that meet Medical Mycology’s high standards for publication. The net result is that the journal is now publishing a higher number of quality papers which are being cited in an ever-expanding diversity of articles appearing in other scientific periodicals.

As just noted, the increasing number and diversity of submissions have led to the expansion of the board of editors, i.e., associate editors, who collectively encompass knowledge and expertise spanning almost the entire field of medical mycology. The associate editors have, in turn, been able to utilize the talents of broader numbers of peer-reviewers. Knowledgeable associate editors and reviewers have been the major factors contributing to the more restrictive publication policies of the journal, such that the journal is now publishing higher-quality and more frequently cited reports.

As the number of individuals attracted to the general field of microbiology has been increasing with the introduction of molecular techniques and sequencing of microbial genomes, there has been a concomitant rise of young scientists entering medical mycology. Since the journal focuses on original and innovative studies of all aspects of medical, veterinary, and environment mycology, it is seen by both young and established scientists as the natural site for the publication of their work. Then, too, while other scientific publications may entertain reports on very specific mycological topics, only Medical Mycology has such a broad, encompassing policy to consider investigations from classic taxonomy to gene activity.

The fungi have become major tools in a diverse array of studies, e.g., virulence, pathogenicity, and gene action, in both basic and applied microbiology. As previously mentioned, the higher incidence of mycotic infections caused by iatrogenic factors and pathologic immunosuppression has heightened awareness of medical mycology in a number of clinical fields. The expansion in the number of antifungal drugs and in their modes of action has attracted pharmacologists and resulted in the publication of their investigations in the journal. The public’s concerns about environmental fungal problems, e.g., sick buildings, have increased the scientific and funding resources to this area of mycological research. Many individuals in this new and expanding area are finding Medical Mycology a potential outlet for publication of their investigations

Its broad mandate is to present the best work in its field from throughout the world, and its mission is to provide a comprehensive reference base for classic and medical mycologists, clinicians, and environmental microbiologists.

I foresee dramatic changes involving emerging mycotic diseases, understanding of fungal pathogenesis at molecular levels; improved diagnostic methods, i.e., faster, more accurate and less expensive procedures, introduction of less expensive antifungal drugs which are more effective; large genome projects to include a greater number of fungi, and a higher number and more scientifically sound studies of environmental mycological problems.

Maintaining its high standards for the publication of investigations in the ever-expanding areas related to human, veterinary, and environmental mycology.