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closeReferee Comments: Referee 1 (Shawn Green)
Posted by PLOS_ONE_Group on 20 Dec 2007 at 18:39 GMT
Reviewer 1's Review
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In the dextran sulfate-induced colitis murine model, Ukena et al. shows enhanced mucosal barrier function upon ingestion with the probiotic, E. coli Nissle 1917. Oral administration of E. coli Nissle 1917 resulted in an increase in the zonula occludens-1 protein in the intestinal epithelium with a corresponding decrease in gut permeability. The decrease in gut 'leakiness' as reflected by inhibition of both lymphocyte infiltrate and Evans blue dye penetration, as well as, restoring sodium absorptive function (and correlative observation of preventing liquid stools) correlated with a partial restoration of weight gain and colon length.
Collectively, these in vivo observations corroborate earlier findings from other labs showing probiotic restoration of gut integrity and are consistent with clinical evidence demonstrating that E.coli Nissle is efficacious in preventing ulceritis colitis relapses.
Unique to this report is the in vivo demonstration that oral administration of E. coli Nissle increases the expression of gut zonula occludens-1 with positive modulation of the described endpoints that are characteristic of colitis.
The author's claims are thoughtfully supported by the experiments and literature; the results and discussion sections are well-written. I believe PLoS would be an ideal mainstream journal to share the observations.
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N.B. These are the general comments made by the reviewer when reviewing this paper in light of which the manuscript was revised. Specific points addressed during revision of the paper are not shown.