In April 2015, the journal transitioned to a continuous online publication model (whereby articles are published as they become ready, before the issue in which they will appear has been finalized).

[2] The founding editor was Josephine A. Morello (University of Chicago Medical Center).

[2] Editorial board structure changed in 1992 and Morello became editor-in-chief.

[2] Betty Ann Forbes (State University of New York) was appointed editor-in-chief in 1997.

It is the ninth journal established and published by the American Society for Microbiology.