Effects of High-Fat Diet on the Gut Microbiota of Renalase Gene Knockout Mice

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The paper was very interesting to read and it is a potential justification for clinical studies. I have two suggestions to improve the paper: (1) add the composition of the fatty acids making up the high fat diet and (2) add a short discussion on the strengths and limitations of mice in modeling human outcomes.

Author Response

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Reviewer 2 Report

The manuscript reported the effect of a normal diet (ND) and a high-fat diet (HFD) on the gut microbiota of Rnls–/– and wild-type (Rnls+/+) mice. Furthermore, DNA samples were extracted from fresh feces, and the composition of microbiota was profiled. The results indicated that the species in Rnls+/+-ND group were Bifidobacterium pseudolongum and Lactobacillus reuteri. On the contrary, the species in Rnls–/–-ND group belonged to the genera Lactobacillus and Turicibacter. The purpose and objectives are clearly stated. In my opinion, it can be published in this journal. Prior to be published, some minor corrections are necessary:

- In Abstract section, it is not sufficient to give a scientifically based overview about the paper. The animal experiment group is not necessary. The authors should rewrite the Abstract section.

- The reference section should be revised according the style of journal.

Author Response

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Reviewer 3 Report

Keywords: Please add more keywords, as the authors mentioned only HFD but why not ND? Besides, also add statistical analysis.

The first paragraph is about the function of Rnls which is fine, but not sufficient. Please provide more literature for a better understanding of Rnls. Suggested the following paper;

Pointer, T. C., Gorelick, F. S., & Desir, G. V. (2021). Renalase: a multi-functional signaling molecule with roles in gastrointestinal disease. Cells, 10(8), 2006.

Overall the introduction section is below the standard and not well addresses the problem. Besides, the provided background study is not sufficient. Hence this section needs major corrections.  Please provide the background about the effects of a fat diet on the Gut Microbiota of Renalase 2 Gene Knockout Mice in the second paragraph. If not available on a specific diet, then a general diet is also ok. Please extend this paragraph by citing some relevant and latest citations.

 

Overall, the results are presented well. The provided figures are fine but figure 3 is blurred please change and make it clear. Please carefully check figure 4, as both the ND are somewhat equally distributed “Purple, 226 Rnls−/−-ND, renalase gene knockout mice fed with normal diet; pink, Rnls+/+-ND, wild-type 227 mice fed with normal diet” please carefully check this figure.

Line 233: “A total of 160 bacterial genera were observed among the four groups (Fig. 5A),” How the authors identify various genera of the bacteria?

Figure 7: Avoid unnecessary spacing in the graph (;;;).

Line 334: Why the authors write the family name in italic? The family name should not be italic, please check throughout the ms.

Please modify the discussion as per your results.

The statistical analysis is sound-producing.

 

The references are also not sufficient.

Author Response

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Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

The authors respond well to all the suggested queries. Now the quality of the manuscript is much improved, easy to read and scientific sound producing. Therefore recommended for publication in its present form.