Review Reports

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The work describes a new approach of developing in vitro model for biofilm cultivation. 

Some format and spelling errors detected. e.g. L45, L70-71

L71: why minimising unbounded liquid is important?

Supplementary data are important somehow and can be included in the manuscript (Table S1 can be transformed into text instead)

3.2: How did the authors observe the thickness of EM (L242) from SEM? Is there any SEM of blank samples for comparisons? The SEM looks rather same.

Discussion: It is a repetition of result. It is important for the authors to convince the readers on the current model by comparing with other models. Why is the current model better to cultivate biofilm? in what aspects? A table summarising currently available methods/models is necessary.

Spelling errors: L281: developed, L291: Combining, L292: screening

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

In this study, the authors have come up with a new simple method for the biofilm cultivation of cutaneous bacteria, using keratin/agarose pellets embedded in polyacrylamide gel. The authors claim that this system is closer to human comedo and provide a cheaper option for the cultivation biofilm forming cutaneous bacteria. The authors have done justice to the background of the study. However, the authors need to polish the manuscript giving emphasis to sentence structure and grammar. It would be better to describe in detail in the introduction session the current systems available for the biofilm cultivation of cutaneous bacteria and their drawbacks. Also, please emphasis more on the positive outcomes from this study in the discussion part.

 

Major comment

It would be better to include the comparison of biofilm formation with other similar systems reported earlier, to show that the new system developed is much better than the earlier ones.

 

Minor comments

The title could be changed ‘A novel simple in vitro system mimicking natural environment for the biofilm cultivation of cutaneous bacteria’

L10: Please re-write the sentence

L24: intestine

Please combine paragraph 1 and 2

L68-69: not clear; please re-write the sentence

L73: nutrients,

L73: (PAAG), and

L74: as a model of ?

Need to pay attention to sentence structure and grammar

Figure S1 needs to be mentioned before Figure S2 in the manuscript

L141: petri dishes

L300: indicated

L156: by adding 1 mL

L158: at 10000 g

L164: Please re-write the sentence

L175: conducted in triplicates

L186: above,

L188: incubation time, pellet

L189: However, in this model system,

L198: not clear. Please re-write it

L191-193: Not clear, please re-write it

L201: tested the

L212: In these experiments,

L214: in this process

L244: when MTT was removed from pellet in water? Not clear.

L255: communities, and

L257-260: not clear. Please re-write it

L264: In the present work,

L293: screening

 

 

 

 

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors have addressed the comments accordingly. Recommend for publication.