質(zhì)粒發(fā)表關(guān)于所有生命王國的遺傳元素的原始研究，強調(diào)染色體外元素的維持、傳播和進(jìn)化。感興趣的對象包括質(zhì)粒、噬菌體、可移動遺傳元素、細(xì)胞器DNA以及基因組和致病性島。質(zhì)粒歡迎水平基因轉(zhuǎn)移，包括抗生素耐藥性轉(zhuǎn)移和微生物生態(tài)學(xué)分子方面的話題。它還歡迎質(zhì)粒生物學(xué)在生物技術(shù)和醫(yī)學(xué)上的應(yīng)用，以及生物信息學(xué)在基因組研究中的應(yīng)用。該雜志是一個雙月刊，刊登完整的文章，簡短的交流和評論。

Plasmid publishes original research on genetic elements in all kingdoms of life with emphasis on maintenance, transmission and evolution of extrachromosomal elements. Objects of interest include plasmids, bacteriophages, mobile genetic elements, organelle DNA, and genomic and pathogenicity islands. Plasmid welcomes topics such as horizontal gene transfer, including antibiotic resistance transfer, and molecular aspects of microbial ecology. It also welcomes applications of plasmid biology to biotechnology and medicine, and of bioinformatics for studies of genomes. The journal is a bi-monthly that publishes full articles, short communications and reviews.