Frontiers in Immunology

📊 Prestige & Metrics High impact and standing: It’s a Q1 journal in Immunology (SJR ~1.94), with a 2024 Scopus-based impact score of 5.69 and an h-index ≈ 259—indicating strong influence in the field

Major indexing: Indexed in leading databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, SCIE, Scopus), and it is the official journal of the International Union of Immunological Societies

⚙️ Editorial & Peer-Review Quality Open peer review: Transparent review process where reviewer identities are disclosed, with full archiving

Volume vs. depth concerns: Critics note that rapid publication, especially in numerous special collections, may prioritize quantity over thoroughness. Executive editors of other Frontiers journals have reportedly seen acceptance rates near 90%

Historical editorial issues: In 2015, major editorial boards (not in Immunology specifically) accused the publisher of interfering with editorial independence—a problem later addressed, and Frontiers reaffirmed compliance with COPE and ICMJE guidelines

📚 Reputation & Controversies Predatory journal accusations: Placed on Beall’s list in 2015 but later removed. Critics have labeled aspects of Frontiers, especially in densely published areas, as “grey-zone” due to aggressive growth and APC-driven strategies

Community views: Some researchers caution against over-publishing in Frontiers and MDPI, saying “they trade scientific quality for volume” scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org . A Reddit voice notes they’re “hit and miss,” suitable for some niches but not ideal as a sole publication venue .

✅ Strengths & Advantages ✅ Accessibility & Reach

Fully open-access under CC-BY, with rapid publication and wide visibility.

Global contributions boost diversity and cross-disciplinary insights

✅ Transparency

Open peer review encourages accountability and sharing of editorial decisions

✅ Reputation in Immunology

As the society journal of IUIS and a top-cited venue, it regularly publishes influential immunology findings

⚠️ Weaknesses & Cautions ⚠️ Volume-driven pressures

Rapid growth and focus on special issues may compromise rigour; guest-edited collections sometimes flood with papers of uneven quality .

⚠️ Variable editorial standards

Early reports of aggressive acceptance culture—though peer review is now reportedly more standardized .

⚠️ Perception issues

Some institutions (notably in China and Finland) may penalize Frontiers publications due to concerns over its “grey-zone” status

📝 Overall Verdict Frontiers in Immunology is a reputable, high-impact open-access journal with broad indexing, transparent peer review, and strong ties to the global immunology community.

However, rapid publication and aggressive growth strategies have occasionally raised concerns about consistency in manuscript quality.

Bottom line: Excellent for disseminating solid immunology work quickly and openly—but avoid over-relying on it for tenure or high-stakes evaluations. Diversify with established rigor-driven journals too.

🔍 Tips for Authors & Readers Evaluate each paper on its own: Depth of methods, clarity, novelty—not just publication venue.

Use open peer reviews: Read available reviewer comments to assess the paper thoroughly.

Complement with other journals: For career progress, balance Frontiers publications with those in slower, selective venues to build credibility.