Nature Communications is an open access, multidisciplinary journal dedicated to publishing high-quality research in all areas of the biological, health, physical, chemical and Earth sciences. Papers published by the journal aim to represent important advances of significance to specialists within each field. We are committed to providing an efficient service for both authors and readers. Our team of independent editors make rapid and fair publication decisions. Prompt dissemination of accepted papers to a wide readership and beyond is achieved through a programme of continuous online publication.