Title: Serum O-glycosylated hepatitis B surface antigen levels in patients with chronic hepatitis
B during nucleos(t)ide analog therapy
Version: 1 Date: 04 Apr 2022
Reviewer's report:
This study has raised an innovative serological detection method for HBV virus content. A
new Elisa kit was designed to detect O-glycosylated M-HBsAg using the specific recognition
recombinant antibody. Although the structure and writing manner of the manuscript are quite
appropriate, several critical experimental design flaws should be resolved before publication.
Major concern#
1. Due to the O-glycosylation of the PreS2 domain of middle HBsAg protein has been identified
as a distinct characteristic of genotype C HBV virions, the detection of genotype A, B and D
HBV virus is still limited.
1. In the comparison before and after NA therapy, Wilcoxon signed rank test was applicable to
non-normal distribution continuous variables, which required normality analysis of variables,
and paired T test was required if the variables met normal distribution.
2. As described by the authors, O-glycosylated HBsAg levels reflects the combined serum HBV
DNA and RNA virion levels. Why not comprehensively analyze the correlation between the
combined virion levels and O-glycosylated HBsAg levels before and after NA therapy?
3. After 48 weeks of NA therapy, HBV DNA is no longer associated with o-glycosylated HBsAg
levels, which may limit its assessment of viral replication capacity after NA therapy.
Minor concern#
1. The manuscript did not mention specific inclusion or exclusion criteria and detailed
information for patients.
Title: Serum O-glycosylated hepatitis B surface antigen levels in patients with chronic hepatitis
B during nucleos(t)ide analog therapy
Version: 1 Date: 04 Apr 2022
Reviewer's report:
This study has raised an innovative serological detection method for HBV virus content. A
new Elisa kit was designed to detect O-glycosylated M-HBsAg using the specific recognition
recombinant antibody. Although the structure and writing manner of the manuscript are quite
appropriate, several critical experimental design flaws should be resolved before publication.
Major concern#
1. Due to the O-glycosylation of the PreS2 domain of middle HBsAg protein has been identified
as a distinct characteristic of genotype C HBV virions, the detection of genotype A, B and D
HBV virus is still limited.
1. In the comparison before and after NA therapy, Wilcoxon signed rank test was applicable to
non-normal distribution continuous variables, which required normality analysis of variables,
and paired T test was required if the variables met normal distribution.
2. As described by the authors, O-glycosylated HBsAg levels reflects the combined serum HBV
DNA and RNA virion levels. Why not comprehensively analyze the correlation between the
combined virion levels and O-glycosylated HBsAg levels before and after NA therapy?
3. After 48 weeks of NA therapy, HBV DNA is no longer associated with o-glycosylated HBsAg
levels, which may limit its assessment of viral replication capacity after NA therapy.
Minor concern#
1. The manuscript did not mention specific inclusion or exclusion criteria and detailed
information for patients.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Serum O-glycosylated hepatitis B surface antigen levels in patients with chronic hepatitis
B during nucleos(t)ide analog therapy
Version: 1 Date: 04 Apr 2022
Reviewer's report:
This study has raised an innovative serological detection method for HBV virus content. A
new Elisa kit was designed to detect O-glycosylated M-HBsAg using the specific recognition
recombinant antibody. Although the structure and writing manner of the manuscript are quite
appropriate, several critical experimental design flaws should be resolved before publication.
Major concern#
1. Due to the O-glycosylation of the PreS2 domain of middle HBsAg protein has been identified
as a distinct characteristic of genotype C HBV virions, the detection of genotype A, B and D
HBV virus is still limited.
1. In the comparison before and after NA therapy, Wilcoxon signed rank test was applicable to
non-normal distribution continuous variables, which required normality analysis of variables,
and paired T test was required if the variables met normal distribution.
2. As described by the authors, O-glycosylated HBsAg levels reflects the combined serum HBV
DNA and RNA virion levels. Why not comprehensively analyze the correlation between the
combined virion levels and O-glycosylated HBsAg levels before and after NA therapy?
3. After 48 weeks of NA therapy, HBV DNA is no longer associated with o-glycosylated HBsAg
levels, which may limit its assessment of viral replication capacity after NA therapy.
Minor concern#
1. The manuscript did not mention specific inclusion or exclusion criteria and detailed
information for patients.
assistant