Sustainable Prebiotic Dessert with Sericin Produced by Bombyx mori Worms
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Manuscript ID: sustainability-1929962
Title: Sustainable prebiotic dessert with Sericin produced by Bombyx mori worms
Thank you very much for the interesting and contemporary and practical article. The authors of the manuscript took a good topic. Generally, the manuscript is written in the scope of the journal. The manuscript needs some corrections.
(1) Line 12: "Bombyx mori " should be italic
(2) The introduction section should be improved because it is very poor and very long. Improve it, providing the problem.
(3) Lines 29-32: Add reference
(4) Line 35: "sulfur" is written twice in the same sentence. Delete one of them
(5) Lines 35-36:"copper" is written twice in the same sentence. Delete one of them
(6) Line 37: Delete " T. "
(7) Line 45: Change " al+so " to "also"
(8) Lines 57-59: Add reference
(9) Lines 61-71: Add reference
(10) Line 73 and all text: "In vivo" and "in vitro" should be italic
(11) Line 78: Delete "as"
(12) Line 89: Add "and" before " methacrylate"
(13) Line 90: Add "and" before " equivalent "
(14) Lines 98, 110 and all text: "in vitro" should be italic
(15) Line 141: " Staphylococcus aureus" should be italic
(16) In all text: " B. mori " should be italic
(17) Line 232: Add "and" before " taste"
(18) The Discussion section should be improved
(19) Line 346: " Bifidobacterium spp " should be italic
(20) Refer to writing references in "text" and "list of references" according to the journal system
Author Response
Dear Reviewers,
Thank you for reviewing our article and for the recommendations made.
In the following, we are presenting our answers to your questions:
1) Is the content succintly described and contextualized with respect to previous and present theoretical background and empirical research (if applicable) on the topic?
Answer for reviewers 1 and 3:
Using the keywords "Foods with sericin" for searching articles published in the last 10 years (in PubMed) led to 14 results, of which those applicable to our research were cited in our article. The documentary research carried out in ResearchGate had the following results: for the keywords "Foods with sericin" - over 900 articles/researches, of which over 98% were in the fields of medicine and pharmacy, and the difference in other fields (eg textiles). Using the keywords "sericin jellies" (as food) did not return any results. All results related to intellectual property (patents) applicable to the use of sericin in food were presented in the article. Considering the previously presented, we consider that this criterion is fulfilled.
2) Are all the cited references relevant to the research?
Answer for reviewer 3:
Considering the interdisciplinary nature of the article, we consider that the cited references are relevant for this research. We introduced a new reference (number 10): Aznar-Cervantes SD, Santesteban BM, Cenis JL. Products of Sericulture and Their Hypoglycemic Action Evaluated by Using the Silkworm, Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), as a Model. Insect. 2021;12:1-9. doi: 10.3390/insects12121059.
3) Are the research design, questions, hypotheses and methods clearly stated?
Answer for reviewer 3:
Both in the abstract and in the article, the research design and hypotheses were presented. All applied methods have been declared.
4) Are the arguments and discussion of findings coherent, balanced and compelling?
Answer for reviewers 1, 2 and 3:
We consider that both the results of our research and the existing patents worldwide presented in the article are coherent, balanced and convincing. As I mentioned in the answer to evaluation criterion no. 1, research on the uses of sericin in food is limited. The fact that the food developed by us has versatile uses in food means that it can be used to prepare several types of food, such as: jellies, ice cream and others. It can also be used to prepare food for special nutritional conditions (eg dysphagia and other pathologies).
5) For empirical research, are the results clearly presented?
Answer for reviewers 2 and 3:
The results are presented from a physical-chemical point of view and a technological application, and we have attached an image aș well. We consider that the results are clear.
6) Is the article adequately referenced?
Answer for reviewers 1, 2 and 3:
Our article is a new research. As we mentioned already, the research published so far is limited for the applications of sericin in food. For this reason, we extended the research period to the last 10 years, and from the total of 47 cited references, 7 references were published before 2012. Of these, 4 are invention patents and represent 8.51% of the total references. Of the 7 previously mentioned references, two are legal regulations still valid today. From the total of references published before 2012, only one article published in 2000 was cited. We cited this reference, because it showed the laxative effect of orally administered serine, for the treatment of constipation caused by opiate treatment. As a result of the previously presented, we consider that all references are appropriate for our article.
7) Are the conclusions thoroughly supported by the results presented in the article or referenced in secondary literature?
Answer for reviewer 3:
Considering the information standed, the results obtained and the references presented, we consider that the conclusions of our article were thoroughly supported.
Answer for reviewer 1:
The introduction has a large dimension because it makes the connection between sericulture (feeding and growing B. mori silkworms), the secretion of sericin by them, their processing in the textile industry, medical and pharmaceutical applications, and worldwide patents applicable to our research. The introduction represents a possible argument for investors in the field of horticulture, animal husbandry and the textile industry in Romania and the European Union for the financing and development of this sector. It also represents a possible solid argument for researchers and researchers in the food industry for the development of foods for special nutritional conditions (pathologies).
The introduction shows the sustainability of our research.
In the Introduction the objective (problem) is presented: "The main objective of this work was the development of a low-energy, sustainable, sericin-containing prebiotic dessert produced by B. mori that does not contain sugar and can be consumed by both people who want a healthy diet or who need foods for special nutritional conditions (diabetes, dysphagia and inflammatory diseases)."
The legislative requirements are also presented in the Introduction. Through the manufactured product, we demonstrate that it fulfills the legislative regulations.
Regarding recommendation number 9: to add the reference to lines 61 - 71: this is not the case, because the text is original. Three types of Morus are cultivated in Romania. Before the Revolution of 1989, all students had to take Morus leaves to school, to feed the silkworms.
The recommendations for rows 12, 29-32, 35, 35-36, 37, 45, 57-59, 73, 78, 89,90, 98, 110, 141, 232 and 346 were made in the text of the article.
We have completed the "Discussions" section.
We revised the writing type of the References in the text and the list of references.
Thank you.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The material part does not give description about the recipes, just shows the raw materials! I think it should be extended in details. The recipes of the samples appear at table 3 and 4, in the result part, but just for the recipes 1-4. If the obtained recipes are results of the study an experimental plan for obtaining should be given in the methodical part.
There are some spelling mistakes in the manuscript, for example in row45: "al+so"; in table 3 "Recip 2" and "Recip 3"
The table 5 does not contain sensory parameters, but in the title of it is written.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you for reviewing our article and for the recommendations made.
In the following, we are presenting our answers to your questions:
1) Is the content succintly described and contextualized with respect to previous and present theoretical background and empirical research (if applicable) on the topic?
Answer for reviewers 1 and 3:
Using the keywords "Foods with sericin" for searching articles published in the last 10 years (in PubMed) led to 14 results, of which those applicable to our research were cited in our article. The documentary research carried out in ResearchGate had the following results: for the keywords "Foods with sericin" - over 900 articles/researches, of which over 98% were in the fields of medicine and pharmacy, and the difference in other fields (eg textiles). Using the keywords "sericin jellies" (as food) did not return any results. All results related to intellectual property (patents) applicable to the use of sericin in food were presented in the article. Considering the previously presented, we consider that this criterion is fulfilled.
2) Are all the cited references relevant to the research?
Answer for reviewer 3:
Considering the interdisciplinary nature of the article, we consider that the cited references are relevant for this research. We introduced a new reference (number 10): Aznar-Cervantes SD, Santesteban BM, Cenis JL. Products of Sericulture and Their Hypoglycemic Action Evaluated by Using the Silkworm, Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), as a Model. Insect. 2021;12:1-9. doi: 10.3390/insects12121059.
3) Are the research design, questions, hypotheses and methods clearly stated?
Answer for reviewer 3:
Both in the abstract and in the article, the research design and hypotheses were presented. All applied methods have been declared.
4) Are the arguments and discussion of findings coherent, balanced and compelling?
Answer for reviewers 1, 2 and 3:
We consider that both the results of our research and the existing patents worldwide presented in the article are coherent, balanced and convincing. As I mentioned in the answer to evaluation criterion no. 1, research on the uses of sericin in food is limited. The fact that the food developed by us has versatile uses in food means that it can be used to prepare several types of food, such as: jellies, ice cream and others. It can also be used to prepare food for special nutritional conditions (eg dysphagia and other pathologies).
5) For empirical research, are the results clearly presented?
Answer for reviewers 2 and 3:
The results are presented from a physical-chemical point of view and a technological application, and we have attached an image aș well. We consider that the results are clear.
6) Is the article adequately referenced?
Answer for reviewers 1, 2 and 3:
Our article is a new research. As we mentioned already, the research published so far is limited for the applications of sericin in food. For this reason, we extended the research period to the last 10 years, and from the total of 47 cited references, 7 references were published before 2012. Of these, 4 are invention patents and represent 8.51% of the total references. Of the 7 previously mentioned references, two are legal regulations still valid today. From the total of references published before 2012, only one article published in 2000 was cited. We cited this reference, because it showed the laxative effect of orally administered serine, for the treatment of constipation caused by opiate treatment. As a result of the previously presented, we consider that all references are appropriate for our article.
7) Are the conclusions thoroughly supported by the results presented in the article or referenced in secondary literature?
Answer for reviewer 3:
Considering the information standed, the results obtained and the references presented, we consider that the conclusions of our article were thoroughly supported.
Answer for reviewer 2:
We took into account all your recommendations. completed the Materials and methods chapter, corrected the spelling mistakes and corrected the title of table 5.
All additions and changes can be found in the text of the article.
Thank you.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
The submitted manuscript "Sustainable prebiotic dessert with Sericin produced by Bombyx mori worms" is novel and should be of interest. However, there are shortcomings that need to be addressed by the authors.
- The title may be revised to better capture the contents described, there is a need to be consistent with italics where necessary throughout the paper. On a general level, the introduction is unusually long before the authors direct the readers' attention to the use of sericin in the food industry.
- L29. Better to write: "Sericulture is a field of agriculture"...
- L45 ..also called the..
L49-57: Please insert references for these sentences
L64: ...was very well developed, however, after the revolution of 1989...
L77-80: The sentence must be revised for clarity
L107: "Due to the fact that the condition of mouse embryo culture....
L148: 'sericin' instead of 'cercin'?
L149....are on granted patents.
L150: "Conform these," - do you mean 'in conformity to this'?
L191-194: the sentences need to re-phrased for clarity. They are currently dis-connected. Perhaps refrences can also be cited to back up the claims.
L256-261: Again, there is a need for clarity. What do you mean: "If the apple juice had been pectinized, then the pectin would have precipitated"?
L300: 'section' instead of 'chapter'
Are there two figures? The authors referred to Figure 1 and 2 but only one figure is shown.
The discussion needs to be more robust with more relevant citations that are related to the results obtained in this study. For example, Ghosh S, Rao RS, Nambiar KS, Haragannavar VC, Augustine D, Sowmya SV. Sericin, a dietary additive: Mini review. J Med Radiol Pathol Surg 2019; 6:4-8.
L340-343: Please revise the grammar for clarity.
In the conclusions, you may add drawbacks from this research and the need for further research to ensure the acceptability of sericin as a food ingredient by EFSA.
Author Response
Dear Reviewer,
Thank you for reviewing our article and for the recommendations made.
In the following, we are presenting our answers to your questions:
1) Is the content succintly described and contextualized with respect to previous and present theoretical background and empirical research (if applicable) on the topic?
Answer for reviewers 1 and 3:
Using the keywords "Foods with sericin" for searching articles published in the last 10 years (in PubMed) led to 14 results, of which those applicable to our research were cited in our article. The documentary research carried out in ResearchGate had the following results: for the keywords "Foods with sericin" - over 900 articles/researches, of which over 98% were in the fields of medicine and pharmacy, and the difference in other fields (eg textiles). Using the keywords "sericin jellies" (as food) did not return any results. All results related to intellectual property (patents) applicable to the use of sericin in food were presented in the article. Considering the previously presented, we consider that this criterion is fulfilled.
2) Are all the cited references relevant to the research?
Answer for reviewer 3:
Considering the interdisciplinary nature of the article, we consider that the cited references are relevant for this research. We introduced a new reference (number 10): Aznar-Cervantes SD, Santesteban BM, Cenis JL. Products of Sericulture and Their Hypoglycemic Action Evaluated by Using the Silkworm, Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), as a Model. Insect. 2021;12:1-9. doi: 10.3390/insects12121059.
3) Are the research design, questions, hypotheses and methods clearly stated?
Answer for reviewer 3:
Both in the abstract and in the article, the research design and hypotheses were presented. All applied methods have been declared.
4) Are the arguments and discussion of findings coherent, balanced and compelling?
Answer for reviewers 1, 2 and 3:
We consider that both the results of our research and the existing patents worldwide presented in the article are coherent, balanced and convincing. As I mentioned in the answer to evaluation criterion no. 1, research on the uses of sericin in food is limited. The fact that the food developed by us has versatile uses in food means that it can be used to prepare several types of food, such as: jellies, ice cream and others. It can also be used to prepare food for special nutritional conditions (eg dysphagia and other pathologies).
5) For empirical research, are the results clearly presented?
Answer for reviewers 2 and 3:
The results are presented from a physical-chemical point of view and a technological application, and we have attached an image aș well. We consider that the results are clear.
6) Is the article adequately referenced?
Answer for reviewers 1, 2 and 3:
Our article is a new research. As we mentioned already, the research published so far is limited for the applications of sericin in food. For this reason, we extended the research period to the last 10 years, and from the total of 47 cited references, 7 references were published before 2012. Of these, 4 are invention patents and represent 8.51% of the total references. Of the 7 previously mentioned references, two are legal regulations still valid today. From the total of references published before 2012, only one article published in 2000 was cited. We cited this reference, because it showed the laxative effect of orally administered serine, for the treatment of constipation caused by opiate treatment. As a result of the previously presented, we consider that all references are appropriate for our article.
7) Are the conclusions thoroughly supported by the results presented in the article or referenced in secondary literature?
Answer for reviewer 3:
Considering the information standed, the results obtained and the references presented, we consider that the conclusions of our article were thoroughly supported.
Answer for Reviewer 3:
We consider the title to be suggestive/attractive. If you want to change it, we propose a new title: Sustainable prebiotic and anti-inflammatory dessert, with sericin produced by Bombyx mori. But we hope, în this case, we dont have to submit all over again the entire manuscript and pass all the steps needed for a new submission...
The introduction seems too long because information makes the connection between sericulture (feeding and growing B. mori silkworms), the secretion of sericin by them, their processing in the textile industry, medical and pharmaceutical applications, and worldwide patents applicable to our research. The introduction represents a possible argument for investors in the field of horticulture, animal husbandry and the textile industry in Romania and the European Union for the financing and development of this sector. It also represents a possible solid argument for researchers and researchers in the food industry for the development of foods for special nutritional conditions (pathologies).
The introduction shows the sustainability of our research.
Regarding the recommendation for lines 191 - 194, we consider that the sentences are clear. we have added references. These can be seen in the text of the article.
Regarding lines 256-261: If the apple juice has pectin, following the reaction with the ethyl alcohol, the pectin is deposited at the base of the vessel/bottle/equipment. This information pertains to the field of the food industry: the control and technology of food products (e.g. the manufacture of alcoholic beverages with fruit content/concentrated fruit juice).
We referred to two recipes (1 and 4) and a single figure. This figure is valid for the two recipes (1 and 4).
Regarding the Discussions section: We have completed the article recommended by you and the verification of the preclinical effectiveness of the anti-inflammatory action of the dessert developed by us. Due to the limited amount of research, including patents for sericin prebiotic foods/desserts, we cannot add more citations.
We have completed the Conclusions section, with your recommendations.
Thank you.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Figure 2 should be figure 1 and recipe 1 and recipe 4 should be markered.
Author Response
1) We have corrected the figure number (1 instead of 2) and italicized recipes 1 and 4.
2) We revised the English language.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Thanks for the revised version of this manuscript. There are still important aspects not addressed in the current version.
- The introductory part is not well structured, too much emphasis on the non-food use of sericin. There should be convincing evidence why the authors are investigating the possibility of a sustainable prebiotic dessert by using sericin from worms. There is only one figure which is referred to as Figure 2?
Author Response
"The introductory part is not well structured, with too much emphasis on the non-food use of sericin. There should be convincing evidence why the authors are investigating the possibility of a sustainable prebiotic dessert by using sericin from worms. There is only one figure which is referred to as Figure 2?"
We described the prebiotic dessert with sericin, in the context of sustainability, as applicability for this journal. Another reason why we made the description in this way, was to motivate/justify the need to develop the culture of three genus Morus, family Moraceae and sericulture in Romania and the European Union. This development has multiple economic and health effects. As we have shown in the introductory part, worldwide there are very few patents in the field of prebiotic foods with sericin. Also, research in the direction of our subject is very limited. Through the recipe (ingredients), our dessert is unique worldwide.
Regarding the number of the figure, it has been corrected, from 2 to 1
As noted in the revised article, we have supplemented the conclusions. We believe they are now supported by the results.
We have also revised the English language.
Thank you for your suggestions.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 3
Reviewer 3 Report
The authors have taken into consideration my previous comments.
