Evolution of Bacterial Persistence to Antibiotics during a 50,000-Generation Experiment in an Antibiotic-Free Environment

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear editor and authors!

The article on title "Evolution of bacterial persistence to antibiotics during a 50,000

generation experiment in an antibiotic-free environment" Is a really interesting and present new look at the antibiotic resistance evolution in a stable environment. I recommend a minor revision.

The manuscript is well written, thought out and laid out. I find the article need a small improves, but after that’s I think it will be to the liking of readers Antibiotics.

I consider following improvements necessary before publication:

 

General comments (paragraphs):

Title

2: Remove the "dot" from the end of the title.

Abstract

19-20: please specify

30: “about three times the COVID-19 death rate”- remove this sentence- - assumptions supported by assumptions.

36: Is it 10 or 6%? It is assumed that from 10%.
63-67: Recommend remove.

79-86: a paragraph more appropriate to the discussion

 

Results

• Standardize signatures figures and tables according to antibiotics recommendation.
• Figure 2 could be more readable

Discussion

Discussions can be updated with new research on persistent cells in biofilm (evolution) and strategy of its eradication:

doi: 10.1080 / 22221751.2021.1994355
doi: 10.1007/s00253-020-10349-w
doi: 10.1038/s41591-020-0825-4
doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2021.10.001

 

 

Best wishes,
 R2

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors The manuscript describe the evolution of persistence for ampicillin and ciprofloxacin by comparing their effects in the ancestor and evolved clones sampled in each of the twelve populations up to 50,000 generations. Although the work is well performed and easy to follow, additional experiments is necessary. 1.- Since antibiotic behavior in vivo greatly depends on their degree of ionization, lypophylicity, conformational characteristics, concentration, solubility and exposition time. Why the authors comparing two different antibiotics? Why use only one concentration and exposition time? 2.- These variables mentioned could change the conclusions about persistence for ampicillin and ciprofloxacin?

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

The manuscript has been improved. I think that this adds to the body of knowledge and recommend for acceptance.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx