PONE-D-19-29061

High expression of Helicobacter pylori VapD in both the intracellular environment and human gastric biopsies from patients with severe gastric pathologies

PLOS ONE

Dear Dr Morales-Espinosa,

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Reviewer #1: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

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Reviewer #1: No

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5. Review Comments to the Author

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Reviewer #1: In this manuscript, the authors observed the cytological features of H. pylori infection on AGS cells. This paper also showed the expression pattern of a small virulence-associated protein VapD of H. pylori in AGS cells and in the biopsies of patients with different gastric diseases by qRT-PCR, and found that the VapD is only expressed in the interaction of H.pyori with eukaryotic cells, further, expressed much higher in the older patients. The results are very interesting, which should be helpful to understand the long persistence of H. pylori in human stomach.

However, the unique issue before acceptation is the English editing. Here, I show some places that are necessary to improve their expression.

1. Title. “High expression of Helicobacter pylori VapD in both the intracellular environment and human gastric biopsies from patients with severe gastric pathologies”, suggested to be “High expression of Helicobacter pylori VapD in both intracellular environment and biopsies from gastric patients with severity”.

2. L30, “…intracellular H. pylori-AGS cells cultures at different time points and…”, suggested to be “…intracellular H. pylori-AGS cell cultures at different time points and…”

3. L33, “Our results show which vapD of H. pylori presented high transcription levels inside AGS cells that increased up to twofold…”, suggested to be “Our results show that vapD of H. pylori presented high transcription levels inside AGS cells, which increased up to twofold…”

4. L71, “…genetic diversity at both the gene and chromosomal level.” Changed to be “…genetic diversity at both the gene and chromosomal levels.”

5. L90, “fusion phagolysosome”, changed to “phagolysosome fusion”.

6. L92, “…clinical implications, in that it can lead to chronic…”, changed to “…clinical implications, which can lead to chronic…”

Here, I just show the first section of the manuscript. I suggest the authors to check carefully the manuscript again. Some places contain grammatical errors.

On the other hand, some expressions are better not to use assertive sentences because it is just a possibility. For example, L450, “…because it is not necessary for its survival outside eukaryotic cell”, better improving to be “…because it could not be necessary for its survival outside eukaryotic cell”.

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Reviewer #1: No

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High expression of Helicobacter pylori VapD in both the intracellular environment and biopsies from gastric patients with severity

PONE-D-19-29061R1

Dear Dr. Morales-Espinosa,

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,

Valli De Re, Ph.D.

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE