PONE-D-19-21147

Toll-like receptor 7-adapter complex modulates interferon-� production in HIV-stimulated plasmacytoid dendritic cells

PLOS ONE

Dear Dr. Connors,

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Cristian Apetrei, MD, PhD

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

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Reviewers' comments:

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Comments to the Author

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Reviewer #1: Yes

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2. Has the statistical analysis been performed appropriately and rigorously?

Reviewer #1: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

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5. Review Comments to the Author

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Reviewer #1: In the manuscript the authors investigate the mechanism responsible for a wide variation in the production of INF-a by plasmocytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in HIV infection. They use four different cohorts: uninfected donors, subjects from the Amsterdam cohort study prior infection, elite controllers that maintain a plasma viral load below 50copies/ml in absence of ART, and progressor subjects. In the study, the authors suggest that the variation in the INF-a production is not due to viral entry efficiency or to the INF-a expression pathway mediated by TLR7/MyD88 complex interaction. Also, they did not observe correlation between the level of INF-a production before infection and disease progression.

The paper is well written and easy to read and understand.

Comments:

1. Table 1: Is the plasma viral load for the progressor subjects below 50 copies/ml?

2. For clarity, the authors should name the panels in the figures and refer to them when describing the results.

3. Figure legends should include more details about the experiments/results

4. Why did the authors use inactivated HIV particles to stimulate pDCs?

5. Did the authors try to stimulate pDC with different amounts of inactivated HIV particles or RNA41 to avoid saturation of CD4 binding or in the expression pathway or INF-a?

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Reviewer #1: No

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Toll-like receptor 7-adapter complex modulates interferon-� production in HIV-stimulated plasmacytoid dendritic cells

PONE-D-19-21147R1

Dear Dr. Connors,

We are pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it complies with all outstanding technical requirements.

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With kind regards,

Cristian Apetrei, MD, PhD

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE

Additional Editor Comments (optional):

Reviewers' comments: