Whole Genome Sequence of the Newly Prescribed Subspecies Oreochromis spilurus saudii: A Valuable Genetic Resource for Aquaculture in Saudi Arabia

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The purpose of the study is clear, and the manuscript has sufficient data for publication. Minor edits and revisions are required before the final acceptance.

• The Latin names should follow the standard formatting system throughout the manuscript.
• The number of fish used in the study is not precise, and also the replications of the methodologies. 
• Authors should draw a better conclusion for future improvements of the tilapia species as candidates for seawater farming. 

Author Response

2/5/2021

Dear Editor, Gwendolyn Gao

We are grateful to your observations and for the reviewers’ comments that we found very constructive and thought-provoking. Please find the attached revised version of our manuscript entitled “Identification antimicrobial peptide of newly prescribed sub-species Oreochromis spilurus saudii through the whole genome sequence: A Valuable Genetic Resource for Aquaculture from the Saudi Arabian Red Sea”, which we submitted in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering for publication as a Research Paper. We have tried to address all reviewers’ comments and criticisms and highlighted the changes in YELLOW color.

The manuscript in its revised format encloses point-by-point responses to each of the comments and criticisms raised by the reviewers. We hope that the revisions in the manuscript and our accompanying responses will be sufficient to make our manuscript suitable for publication in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering.

We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Best Regards,

Mohammed O. Aljahdali, Ph.D

Professor of Ecological Physiology

King Abdulaziz University

Faculty of Science

Biological Sciences Department

P.O. Box 80203, Jeddah 21589

Saudi Arabia

Email: moaljahdali@kau.edu.sa

Reviewer 1

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The purpose of the study is clear, and the manuscript has sufficient data for publication. Minor edits and revisions are required before the final acceptance.

Comment 1: The Latin names should follow the standard formatting system throughout the manuscript.

Reply: Corrected as you suggested.

Comment 2: The number of fish used in the study is not precise, and also the replications of the methodologies. 

Reply: During the whole genome sequence, Genomic DNA was extracted from muscle tissue using Qiagen Genomic Tip100 (Qiagen, Germantown, MD, USA). As you know, whole genome sequencing is expensive and time demanding that you cannot make replication frequently for it. We all do more analysis in next time and effort to update.

Comment 3: Authors should draw a better conclusion for future improvements of the tilapia species as candidates for seawater farming. 

Reply: Improvement has done as you suggested and marked it yellow color in conclusion.

Reviewer 2 Report

The manuscript entitled “Identification antimicrobial peptide of newly prescribed subspecies Oreochromis spilurus saudii through the whole genome sequence: A Valuable Genetic Resource for Aquaculture from the Saudi Arabian Red Sea” by Aljahdali et al. is worth publishing as the article. The study has got scientific importance in the view of the development of aquaculture and species Oreochromis spilurus saudii can serve as a future valuable genetic resource. Although, there are some minor corrections found in the manuscript.

Minor corrections:

• As the title reflect, the authors need to focus on the whole-genome sequence and importance also in the introduction part.
• The introduction needs much more description of the genome sequence of genera, Oreochromis.
• The manuscript is based on Anti-microbial peptides but in the discussion, authors missed to describe more about AMPs and their importance, also not given proper references of previous studies conducted in a similar trend.
• Have you checked the binding capacity and toxicity of the identified AMPs?
• Most of the study is Insilco, so it is difficult to confirm the exact antimicrobial activity of peptides. Is there any Insilco identified AMPs showed activity when conducted in vitro/in vivo studies that can increase the strength of the present manuscript?
• Figures provided in the manuscript are below the standards please provide clear figures
• The conclusion should include AMPs.
• Authors are describing tilapias as a salt-tolerant, if so, what may be the reason, are they having any salinity tolerant genes/factors/mechanisms? Have you reviewed it in this way?

Specific comments:

Line 12- “ Spp” should not italics

Line 275 – Add number for this reference Abuine et al., 2019

Recheck the reference section before submitting

I would recommend the publication of this manuscript after addressing minor changes.

Author Response

2/5/2021

Dear Editor, Gwendolyn Gao

We are grateful to your observations and for the reviewers’ comments that we found very constructive and thought-provoking. Please find the attached revised version of our manuscript entitled “Identification antimicrobial peptide of newly prescribed sub-species Oreochromis spilurus saudii through the whole genome sequence: A Valuable Genetic Resource for Aquaculture from the Saudi Arabian Red Sea”, which we submitted in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering for publication as a Research Paper. We have tried to address all reviewers’ comments and criticisms and highlighted the changes in YELLOW color.

The manuscript in its revised format encloses point-by-point responses to each of the comments and criticisms raised by the reviewers. We hope that the revisions in the manuscript and our accompanying responses will be sufficient to make our manuscript suitable for publication in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering.

We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Best Regards,

Mohammed O. Aljahdali, Ph.D

Professor of Ecological Physiology

King Abdulaziz University

Faculty of Science

Biological Sciences Department

P.O. Box 80203, Jeddah 21589

Saudi Arabia

Email: moaljahdali@kau.edu.sa

Reviewer 2

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript entitled “Identification antimicrobial peptide of newly prescribed subspecies Oreochromis spilurus saudii through the whole genome sequence: A Valuable Genetic Resource for Aquaculture from the Saudi Arabian Red Sea” by Aljahdali et al. is worth publishing as the article. The study has got scientific importance in the view of the development of aquaculture and species Oreochromis spilurus saudii can serve as a future valuable genetic resource. Although, there are some minor corrections found in the manuscript.

Minor corrections:

Comment 1: As the title reflect, the authors need to focus on the whole-genome sequence and importance also in the introduction part.

Reply: The section has been added in introduction part that you suggested and highlighted it in yellow color.

Comment 2: The introduction needs much more description of the genome sequence of genera, Oreochromis.

Reply: The section has been added in the introduction part as you suggestion and marked in yellow color.

Comment 3: The manuscript is based on Anti-microbial peptides but in the discussion, authors missed to describe more about AMPs and their importance, also not given proper references of previous studies conducted in a similar trend.

Reply: We describe AMPs in discussion part and mention importance of AMPs and also included references of previous studies that marked yellow color in discussion part of manuscript.

Comment 4: Have you checked the binding capacity and toxicity of the identified AMPs?

Reply: We are really sorry to say, the mentioned issue is not related to our study, however we observed the number of AMPs and their activities against to different disease. We also showed the biological process, molecular function and cellular component of AMPs. 

Comment 5: Most of the study is Insilco, so it is difficult to confirm the exact antimicrobial activity of peptides. Is there any Insilco identified AMPs showed activity when conducted in vitro/in vivo studies that can increase the strength of the present manuscript?

Reply: Thank you for your suggestions. We are currently facing some hardness due to current COVID-19 situation, the lab facility is currently limited, and we have planned to do it after getting stability of the COVID-19 situation. After, getting result we will try to publish an update version of the manuscript. Thank you again for understanding.

Comment 6: The Figures provided in the manuscript are below the standards please provide clear figures

Reply: Thank you for your comment. Figures resolution increased above 300 DPI as you suggested.

Comment 7: The conclusion should include AMPs.

Reply: Thank you for your suggestion. The section has been included in conclusion section as you suggested.

Comment 8: The Authors are describing tilapias as a salt-tolerant, if so, what may be the reason, are they having any salinity tolerant genes/factors/mechanisms? Have you reviewed it in this way?

Reply:

Specific comments:

Comment 9: The Line 12- “ Spp” should not italics

Reply: Thank you for your comment. Changed as you suggested.

Comment 10: The Line 275 – Add number for this reference Abuine et al., 2019

Reply: Thank you for your comment. Corrected as you suggested.

Comment 11: The Recheck the reference section before submitting

Reply: Thank you for your suggestion. Rechecked and updated as you suggested.