Impact of Novel Functional Ingredients on Lactobacillus casei Viability
, Mallerly Sarmientos 2, Jhunior Marcia 2, Ajitesh Yaday 3 and Aryana Kayanush 1,*Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe study "Impact of Novel Functional Ingredients on Lactobacillus casei Viability" delved into a captivating area of study, focusing on the effects of nipple fruit, teosinte, choro mushroom, and weevil powders on the bile tolerance, acid tolerance, lysozyme tolerance, gastric juice resistance, and protease activity of Lactobacillus casei. The study's findings reveal that nipple fruit had a positive impact on the viability of L. casei, while caesar mushroom and weevil powder showed negative effects on the bile tolerance, acid tolerance, lysozyme resistance, and simulated gastric juice tolerance characteristics. Consequently, nipple fruit may enhance the characteristics of L. casei in cultured dairy by-products. Although the study's findings were promising, the manuscript needed further revisions to improve the clarity and depth of the results, discussion, and address the comments.
Minor comments:
1. I strongly suggest that you spell out all abbreviations in the text the first time mentioned in the text.
2. Cross-reference all of the citations in the text with the references in the reference section and make sure that all references have a corresponding citation within the text and vice versa.
Major comments:
L23: 37 ºC. check it
L28, 84..: scientific name must be in italic, check full manuscript
L31: recommended adding a few more references for better highlights of your study.
L135: provide more information about OPA reagent
L 324: rewrite the conclusion with proper justification and add some minor key points for better highlights of this study.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageMinor
Author Response
The study "Impact of Novel Functional Ingredients on Lactobacillus casei Viability" delved into a captivating area of study, focusing on the effects of nipple fruit, teosinte, choro mushroom, and weevil powders on the bile tolerance, acid tolerance, lysozyme tolerance, gastric juice resistance, and protease activity of Lactobacillus casei. The study's findings reveal that nipple fruit had a positive impact on the viability of L. casei, while caesar mushroom and weevil powder showed negative effects on the bile tolerance, acid tolerance, lysozyme resistance, and simulated gastric juice tolerance characteristics. Consequently, nipple fruit may enhance the characteristics of L. casei in cultured dairy by-products. Although the study's findings were promising, the manuscript needed further revisions to improve the clarity and depth of the results, discussion, and address the comments.
Minor comments:
- I strongly suggest that you spell out all abbreviations in the text the first time mentioned in the text.
Answer: recommendation was followed.
- Cross-reference all of the citations in the text with the references in the reference section and make sure that all references have a corresponding citation within the text and vice versa.
Answer: recommendation was followed.
Major comments:
L23: 37 ºC. check it
Answer: recommendation was followed.
L28, 84..: scientific name must be in italic, check full manuscript
Answer: recommendation was followed.
L31: recommended adding a few more references for better highlights of your study.
Answer: recommendation was followed.
L135: provide more information about OPA reagent
Answer: recommendation was followed.
L 324: rewrite the conclusion with proper justification and add some minor key points for better highlights of this study.
Answer: recommendation was followed.
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis study comprehensively explores the impact of various plant powders on the characteristics of Lactobacillus casei, providing crucial insights into the adaptability of Lactobacillus casei under different conditions. However, there is room for further improvement in certain aspects. Specific suggestions are as follows：
In the abstract results section, it is recommended to provide more detailed data analysis and explanations to clearly demonstrate the extent of the influence of different plant powders on the characteristics of Lactobacillus casei.
Line 68: "IM" is not defined, and it's unclear what it refers to. Either define "IM" upon first use or replace it with a clear term.
Line 255-256: The statement "It has a bactericidal function by damaging cells by hydrolysis mechanism, making absorption easier for cells in charge of phagocytizing (eating) bacteria" is not entirely accurate. While lysozyme does have a bactericidal function by hydrolyzing peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls, it primarily acts by weakening the cell wall rather than causing cell damage directly. It facilitates bacterial lysis and can enhance bacterial susceptibility to other antimicrobial agents or phagocytosis by immune cells.
Line 267-268: The statement "The ingredient and time effects were significant (p > 0.05), whereas the interaction effect (ingredient × time) was not significant (p < 0.05)" is contradictory and incorrect. Typically, a significance level of p < 0.05 indicates that the result is statistically significant, while p > 0.05 suggests nonsignificance.
Line 273-274: The statement "The nipple fruit treatments reported significantly (p > 0.05) higher viability than the control samples" is incorrect. Typically, a significance level of p > 0.05 suggests nonsignificance, not significance. This may lead to a misinterpretation of the statistical results. If p > 0.05, it indicates that there is no significant difference between the groups.
Line 283-284: The statement "Lysozymes are membrane-bound cellular organelles that contain digestive enzymes" is incorrect. Lysozymes are enzymes, not cellular organelles. They are typically found in the extracellular environment or within certain cells, but they are not considered cellular organelles.
Line 295-296: The significance level is wrong.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageLine 73: "was been carrufully" - "was been" is grammatically incorrect; it should be "has been." Also, "carrufully" should be corrected to "carefully."
Line 74-75: "Nipple fruit (Solanum mammosum) [7], teosinte (Dioon mejiae) [8], and Caesar mushroom (Amanita caesarea) [9], is an ideal fiber, mineral, and protein source." - The plural subject "Nipple fruit," "teosinte," and "Caesar mushroom" requires the plural verb "are" instead of "is."
Line 59: "Futhermore" should be corrected to "Furthermore."
Line 163: "perform " should be "performs."
Author Response
This study comprehensively explores the impact of various plant powders on the characteristics of Lactobacillus casei, providing crucial insights into the adaptability of Lactobacillus casei under different conditions. However, there is room for further improvement in certain aspects. Specific suggestions are as follows：
In the abstract results section, it is recommended to provide more detailed data analysis and explanations to clearly demonstrate the extent of the influence of different plant powders on the characteristics of Lactobacillus casei.
Answer: abstract was improved.
Line 68: "IM" is not defined, and it's unclear what it refers to. Either define "IM" upon first use or replace it with a clear term.
Answer: IM was deleted and changed into “microbiome of the intestine”.
Line 255-256: The statement "It has a bactericidal function by damaging cells by hydrolysis mechanism, making absorption easier for cells in charge of phagocytizing (eating) bacteria" is not entirely accurate. While lysozyme does have a bactericidal function by hydrolyzing peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls, it primarily acts by weakening the cell wall rather than causing cell damage directly. It facilitates bacterial lysis and can enhance bacterial susceptibility to other antimicrobial agents or phagocytosis by immune cells.
Answer: Sentence was changed.
Line 267-268: The statement "The ingredient and time effects were significant (p > 0.05), whereas the interaction effect (ingredient × time) was not significant (p < 0.05)" is contradictory and incorrect. Typically, a significance level of p < 0.05 indicates that the result is statistically significant, while p > 0.05 suggests nonsignificance.
Answer: Sentence was changed.
Line 273-274: The statement "The nipple fruit treatments reported significantly (p > 0.05) higher viability than the control samples" is incorrect. Typically, a significance level of p > 0.05 suggests nonsignificance, not significance. This may lead to a misinterpretation of the statistical results. If p > 0.05, it indicates that there is no significant difference between the groups.
Answer: Sentence was changed.
Line 283-284: The statement "Lysozymes are membrane-bound cellular organelles that contain digestive enzymes" is incorrect. Lysozymes are enzymes, not cellular organelles. They are typically found in the extracellular environment or within certain cells, but they are not considered cellular organelles.
Answer: Sentence was changed.
Line 295-296: The significance level is wrong.
Answer: Sentence was changed.
Comments on the Quality of English Language
Line 73: "was been carrufully" - "was been" is grammatically incorrect; it should be "has been." Also, "carrufully" should be corrected to "carefully."
Line 74-75: "Nipple fruit (Solanum mammosum) [7], teosinte (Dioon mejiae) [8], and Caesar mushroom (Amanita caesarea) [9], is an ideal fiber, mineral, and protein source." - The plural subject "Nipple fruit," "teosinte," and "Caesar mushroom" requires the plural verb "are" instead of "is."
Line 59: "Futhermore" should be corrected to "Furthermore."
Line 163: "perform " should be "performs."
Answer: Corrections were made.
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for Authors
The manuscript entitled “Impact of Novel Functional Ingredients on Lactobacillus casei Viabilit” deals with the probiotic characteristics of L. casei. The influence of nipple fruit, caesar mushroom and weevil powder on bile tolerance, acid tolerance, lysozyme resistance, and simulated gastric juice tolerance of L. casei was tested. The results shown the positive effect of nipple fruit. It can be used in production of new fermented dairy products. Results were discussed in reference to other articles.
Cited references are quite new. Statistical analysis was applied for characterization the obtained results. Manuscript is well-written and contains valuable information. It is suitable for readers of Bacteria. In my opinion, the manuscript can be published as it is.
Author Response
The manuscript entitled “Impact of Novel Functional Ingredients on Lactobacillus casei Viabilit” deals with the probiotic characteristics of L. casei. The influence of nipple fruit, caesar mushroom and weevil powder on bile tolerance, acid tolerance, lysozyme resistance, and simulated gastric juice tolerance of L. casei was tested. The results shown the positive effect of nipple fruit. It can be used in production of new fermented dairy products. Results were discussed in reference to other articles.
Cited references are quite new. Statistical analysis was applied for characterization the obtained results. Manuscript is well-written and contains valuable information. It is suitable for readers of Bacteria. In my opinion, the manuscript can be published as it is.
Answer: Thank you for your comments.
