With the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence technology, the application of Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in virology research has become increasingly prevalent. However, researchers must adhere to corresponding academic standards. These guidelines aim to clarify the applicable scenarios and regulations for GenAI in manuscript preparation and peer review for Chinese Journal of Virology.
1. Applicable Scenarios of GenAI in Manuscripts for Chinese Journal of Virology
GenAI possesses the capability to generate multimodal content including text, images, audio, video, datasets, program code, and analytical models. This technology is reshaping research paradigms and manuscript writing patterns in the field of virology. To safeguard academic integrity, prevent academic misconduct, and ensure the authenticity, accuracy, and traceability of the entire manuscript workflow and its output data for Chinese Journal of Virology, the Editorial Office hereby formulates these guidelines for the use of GenAI in manuscript writing and peer review. These guidelines elaborate on the significant value of GenAI for academic research and publication in Chinese Journal of Virology, and reaffirm the necessity of adhering to academic ethics and editorial standards, with the core objective of maintaining the credibility and scientific rigor of research findings published in Chinese Journal of Virology.
2. Usage Guidelines in Manuscript Preparation
GenAI may be used for auxiliary tasks such as literature review, statistical modeling, and English language polishing; however, authors must guarantee the authenticity of experimental data and are strictly prohibited from using AI to fabricate or distort research procedures and conclusions. Any content generated by AI must be explicitly labeled. During the manuscript preparation phase for virology papers, GenAI can assist authors in the following aspects: retrieving relevant literature, inspiring research topic selection, optimizing keyword selection, and providing technical support in bioinformatics analysis, statistical inference, language polishing, and visualization scheme recommendations.
Nevertheless, authors must exercise extreme caution when using GenAI, ensuring that all cited experimental data are authentic and accurate, and independently verifying AI-generated outputs through experimental validation. Meanwhile, authors should clearly delineate the auxiliary role of AI from their own original contributions, ensuring that the manuscript reflects the individual academic style and originality of the signed authors.
Furthermore, GenAI shall not be used to fabricate raw experimental data, manipulate research procedures and experimental results, or falsify other forms of academic materials. Regarding reference management, GenAI may assist with format verification, automatic sorting, and citation generation; however, when citing, authors must strictly distinguish between AI-generated content and original literature sources to prevent misleading readers.
3. Prohibited Practices in Manuscript Preparation
The use of GenAI for the creation of core manuscript content is strictly prohibited to ensure originality and academic integrity. GenAI does not qualify for authorship and shall not be listed as an author. In virology manuscript writing, the following practices are prohibited: directly citing AI-generated references without manual verification; using GenAI to fabricate experimental data, manipulate research procedures and results, or engage in other forms of academic misconduct. Authors must strictly abide by academic ethical standards to ensure the originality and authenticity of their manuscripts.
Given that GenAI lacks the fundamental qualifications for authorship and cannot assume corresponding academic responsibilities, GenAI itself, its associated products, and research and development teams shall not be listed as paper authors. GenAI shall not be used to write the full text of the manuscript or its core chapters, including but not limited to virus isolation and identification methods, presentation of experimental results, interpretation and discussion of results, and other content requiring substantive scientific contributions, which must be completed by the authors themselves. If the main body of the manuscript is generated by GenAI, the Editorial Office will identify it as academic misconduct and handle it in accordance with regulations.
4. Author Responsibilities and AI Usage Disclosure Requirements
Authors bear ultimate responsibility for the entire content of the manuscript, including sections completed with AI assistance. If authors have used GenAI during the research and manuscript preparation process, they must disclose the details of AI usage in an open, detailed, and transparent manner in the main text or methodology section, including the name of the tool used, version number, period of use, and specific operational procedures. If necessary, auxiliary content generated by AI should be labeled with factual and opinion-based annotations. Meanwhile, authors are advised to submit AI output products (such as text, charts, or analysis scripts) as supplementary materials for archival purposes, to be reviewed by peer reviewers and editors for verification of the manuscript's originality.
5. Guidelines for the Use of GenAI in the Peer Review Process
During the manuscript review process, if peer reviewers or editors intend to utilize GenAI for auxiliary evaluation, they must ensure that the usage is transparent and compliant with academic standards. Reviewers and editors should document the use of GenAI in detail in their review comments, including the name of the tool used, functional modules, and specific applications in the evaluation process. Meanwhile, any auxiliary content generated by GenAI must undergo factual verification and opinion screening to ensure its accuracy and reliability.
These guidelines shall take effect from the date of issuance and shall be interpreted by the Editorial Office of Chinese Journal of Virology.
Editorial Office of Chinese Journal of Virology
January 15, 2025