Title: Variations in the gastric mucosal microbiome and its predictive functions between
chronic atrophic gastritis and chronic nonatrophic gastritis patients based on Helicobacter pylori
negativity (A study of variations in the gastric mucosal microbiome)
Version: 1 Date: 25 Feb 2025
Reviewer's report:
Title: Variations in the gastric mucosal microbiome and its predictive functions between
chronic atrophic gastritis and chronic nonatrophic gastritis patients based on Helicobacter pylori
negativity (A study of variations in the gastric mucosal microbiome)
Summary: While Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is a substantial risk factor for gastric
cancer development its eradication does not necessarily lead to a reduction in the incidence of
gastric cancer. Non-HP bacteria in the stomach are involved in the transformation of gastritis
carcinoma. The aim of the study was to characterize the gastric mucosa's bacterial population
and its in non-Hp patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) and chronic nonatrophic
gastritis (CNAG). To that end, fourteen CNAG samples and twenty-three CAG samples were
collected and analyzed with 16S and bioinformatic assessment. Both groups had the same
most abundant bacterial phyla. Pathways related to xenobiotic biodegradation and metabolism,
metabolism, signal transduction, metabolism of cofactors and vitamins, cancer, infectious
disease and digestive system were enriched in the CAG group, while functions associated with
amino acid metabolism, translation, replication and repair, and metabolism of terpenoids and
polyketides were enriched in the CNAG group. The researchers conclude that Changes in gastric
mucosal microorganisms and their functions are correlated with chronic atrophic gastritis. These
differences might become biomarkers or combined therapies for CAG.
Reference to previous reviewers' comments:
1. The information regarding informed consent was indeed added to the manuscript.
2. I checked and PRJNA1113136 is indeed active.
Major comments:
• The presence of the Acinetobacter phylum, a known group of nosocomial pathogens, is
intriguing. I would have expected to see more reference to this in the discussion.
• Line 226-227 " it is important to identify specific bacteria" – I would argue that you are not
actually identifying specific bacteria as you only have genus and phylum level data.
Minor comments:
• You use many different terms for non-helicobacter pylori bacteria – nonhp, non-Hp, H.pylori-
negative… it would be better to choose one form of abbreviation and keep that throughout the
paper.
• Line 43-44: "Conclusion. Changes in gastric mucosal microorganisms and their functions are
correlated a correlation with chronic atrophic" – correlated/correlation? I think something is
wrong with the sentence.
• There are some minor editing issues that can be easily corrected.
• Figure 3 and 5 – the letters are too small – please use a bigger font.
Title: Variations in the gastric mucosal microbiome and its predictive functions between
chronic atrophic gastritis and chronic nonatrophic gastritis patients based on Helicobacter pylori
negativity (A study of variations in the gastric mucosal microbiome)
Version: 1 Date: 25 Feb 2025
Reviewer's report:
Title: Variations in the gastric mucosal microbiome and its predictive functions between
chronic atrophic gastritis and chronic nonatrophic gastritis patients based on Helicobacter pylori
negativity (A study of variations in the gastric mucosal microbiome)
Summary: While Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is a substantial risk factor for gastric
cancer development its eradication does not necessarily lead to a reduction in the incidence of
gastric cancer. Non-HP bacteria in the stomach are involved in the transformation of gastritis
carcinoma. The aim of the study was to characterize the gastric mucosa's bacterial population
and its in non-Hp patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) and chronic nonatrophic
gastritis (CNAG). To that end, fourteen CNAG samples and twenty-three CAG samples were
collected and analyzed with 16S and bioinformatic assessment. Both groups had the same
most abundant bacterial phyla. Pathways related to xenobiotic biodegradation and metabolism,
metabolism, signal transduction, metabolism of cofactors and vitamins, cancer, infectious
disease and digestive system were enriched in the CAG group, while functions associated with
amino acid metabolism, translation, replication and repair, and metabolism of terpenoids and
polyketides were enriched in the CNAG group. The researchers conclude that Changes in gastric
mucosal microorganisms and their functions are correlated with chronic atrophic gastritis. These
differences might become biomarkers or combined therapies for CAG.
Reference to previous reviewers' comments:
1. The information regarding informed consent was indeed added to the manuscript.
2. I checked and PRJNA1113136 is indeed active.
Major comments:
• The presence of the Acinetobacter phylum, a known group of nosocomial pathogens, is
intriguing. I would have expected to see more reference to this in the discussion.
• Line 226-227 " it is important to identify specific bacteria" – I would argue that you are not
actually identifying specific bacteria as you only have genus and phylum level data.
Minor comments:
• You use many different terms for non-helicobacter pylori bacteria – nonhp, non-Hp, H.pylori-
negative… it would be better to choose one form of abbreviation and keep that throughout the
paper.
• Line 43-44: "Conclusion. Changes in gastric mucosal microorganisms and their functions are
correlated a correlation with chronic atrophic" – correlated/correlation? I think something is
wrong with the sentence.
• There are some minor editing issues that can be easily corrected.
• Figure 3 and 5 – the letters are too small – please use a bigger font.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Variations in the gastric mucosal microbiome and its predictive functions between
chronic atrophic gastritis and chronic nonatrophic gastritis patients based on Helicobacter pylori
negativity (A study of variations in the gastric mucosal microbiome)
Version: 1 Date: 25 Feb 2025
Reviewer's report:
Title: Variations in the gastric mucosal microbiome and its predictive functions between
chronic atrophic gastritis and chronic nonatrophic gastritis patients based on Helicobacter pylori
negativity (A study of variations in the gastric mucosal microbiome)
Summary: While Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is a substantial risk factor for gastric
cancer development its eradication does not necessarily lead to a reduction in the incidence of
gastric cancer. Non-HP bacteria in the stomach are involved in the transformation of gastritis
carcinoma. The aim of the study was to characterize the gastric mucosa's bacterial population
and its in non-Hp patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) and chronic nonatrophic
gastritis (CNAG). To that end, fourteen CNAG samples and twenty-three CAG samples were
collected and analyzed with 16S and bioinformatic assessment. Both groups had the same
most abundant bacterial phyla. Pathways related to xenobiotic biodegradation and metabolism,
metabolism, signal transduction, metabolism of cofactors and vitamins, cancer, infectious
disease and digestive system were enriched in the CAG group, while functions associated with
amino acid metabolism, translation, replication and repair, and metabolism of terpenoids and
polyketides were enriched in the CNAG group. The researchers conclude that Changes in gastric
mucosal microorganisms and their functions are correlated with chronic atrophic gastritis. These
differences might become biomarkers or combined therapies for CAG.
Reference to previous reviewers' comments:
1. The information regarding informed consent was indeed added to the manuscript.
2. I checked and PRJNA1113136 is indeed active.
Major comments:
• The presence of the Acinetobacter phylum, a known group of nosocomial pathogens, is
intriguing. I would have expected to see more reference to this in the discussion.
• Line 226-227 " it is important to identify specific bacteria" – I would argue that you are not
actually identifying specific bacteria as you only have genus and phylum level data.
Minor comments:
• You use many different terms for non-helicobacter pylori bacteria – nonhp, non-Hp, H.pylori-
negative… it would be better to choose one form of abbreviation and keep that throughout the
paper.
• Line 43-44: "Conclusion. Changes in gastric mucosal microorganisms and their functions are
correlated a correlation with chronic atrophic" – correlated/correlation? I think something is
wrong with the sentence.
• There are some minor editing issues that can be easily corrected.
• Figure 3 and 5 – the letters are too small – please use a bigger font.
assistant