Polyphasic Characterization of Microbiota of “Mastredda”, a Traditional Wooden Tool Used during the Production of PDO Provola dei Nebrodi Cheese

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The paper you submitted is well described and prepared in detail. Nevertheless, some things need to be revised – In the following I`ll try to refer to the relevant sections in detail (unfortunately, there is no line numbering):

Section 2 in the first sentences after Tab 1: remove “the” at “using a sterile  …”

Section 2.3 and 2.4: In the method section in particular at some sentences, be careful with the description – it should be in your own words.

Section 2.5: performed in duplicate means 2 plates per dilution or 2 dilution series? Please specify.

Figure 3: Use uniform names – WTA, WTB, WTC, WTD instead of TMA etc. Different fractions are difficult to differentiate because the colors are too similar - a graphic separation (e.g. dividing lines) of the genera could offer even more orientation.

Table 2: Please indicate here the number of replications for the mean values n=?

Section 3.4: Please format all strain names correctly in italics. 

Author Response

Answers to Reviewer 1:

The paper you submitted is well described and prepared in detail. Nevertheless, some things need to be revised – In the following I`ll try to refer to the relevant sections in detail (unfortunately, there is no line numbering):

1. Thanks a lot for your positive response. All your suggestions were considered and the changes in the text were highlighted in green. Line numbers were inserted in a previous version, sorry for any inconvenient.

Section 2 in the first sentences after Tab 1: remove “the” at “using a sterile  …”

1. Modified (L103).

Section 2.3 and 2.4: In the method section in particular at some sentences, be careful with the description – it should be in your own words.

2. Section 2.3 and 2.4 have been rewritten for higher clarity (L136-148,152-164).

Section 2.5: performed in duplicate means 2 plates per dilution or 2 dilution series? Please specify.

1. In duplicate means 2 dilution series. We are opened to further suggestions regarding text modification.

Figure 3: Use uniform names – WTA, WTB, WTC, WTD instead of TMA etc. Different fractions are difficult to differentiate because the colors are too similar - a graphic separation (e.g. dividing lines) of the genera could offer even more orientation.

1. A new Figure 3 has been prepared to address this request (L247).

Table 2: Please indicate here the number of replications for the mean values n=?

1. Added (L300).

Section 3.4: Please format all strain names correctly in italics.

AU. Modified in all text (L252-261,273-275,278-279,286-287,289,291-292,294,329-330,334-335,337,340-341,367-369,371-380,382-384,395-398).

Reviewer 2 Report

I would like to thank you for the opportunity to participate in the review of the scientific article.

The research article was written correctly, the manuscript forms a concise whole. The introduction is written in an interesting and correct way. The aim of the work has been clearly formulated. The article presents extremely interesting results of research on the "technical" microflora found on wooden tools. The most important thing that was missing from the manuscript is the information about the microbiological media used and their producers. How these bacteria were grown and were isolated?

Below are some minor remarks that need to be improved.

• Throughout the article, the spelling of microbiological names should be corrected - types and species of microorganisms should be written in italics;
• Section 2.6. Isolation, grouping, genotypic differentiation and identification of LAB - on what media were the bacteria grown? Please provide the type of medium and the manufacturer.
• Figure 3 - bar charts are labeled TMA, TMB, TMC and TMD - the abbreviations below indicate "wooden tool", so the charts should be signed WTA-WTD;
• Figure 3 - the colors used in the chart are unreadable.
• In Section 2.8. Statistical analyses it was written that the significance level p was 0.05. Meanwhile, in Table 2, the significance level was 0.01?
• In table 2, the word "Pseudomonads" should be replaced by the word "Pseudomonas" (written in italics). In section 3.3, this error also appears in the text.
• Section 3.4. Microbiological and hygiene criteria for foodstuffs – what is WVB? It was probably a WTB sample.
• Figure 4 – Abbreviations: the names of the genera and species should be written in italics.
• Table 4 – what the symbol ■ means?

After a slight revision of the manuscript, I recommend the article for further publication stages.

Author Response

Answers to Reviewer 2:

I would like to thank you for the opportunity to participate in the review of the scientific article. The research article was written correctly, the manuscript forms a concise whole. The introduction is written in an interesting and correct way. The aim of the work has been clearly formulated. The article presents extremely interesting results of research on the "technical" microflora found on wooden tools.

1. Thanks a lot for your positive response. All your suggestions were considered and the changes in the text were highlighted in yellow.

The most important thing that was missing from the manuscript is the information about the microbiological media used and their producers. How these bacteria were grown and were isolated?

1. All the information about the microbiological media used for the classical microbiological analysis have been added in the text (L169-184).

Below are some minor remarks that need to be improved.

Throughout the article, the spelling of microbiological names should be corrected - types and species of microorganisms should be written in italics;

1. Modified throughout the text (L252-261,273-275,278-279,286-287,289,291-292,294,329-330,334-335,337,340-341,367-369,371-380,382-384,395-398).

Section 2.6. Isolation, grouping, genotypic differentiation and identification of LAB - on what media were the bacteria grown? Please provide the type of medium and the manufacturer.

1. These missing information have been added (L187).

Figure 3 - bar charts are labeled TMA, TMB, TMC and TMD - the abbreviations below indicate "wooden tool", so the charts should be signed WTA-WTD; Figure 3 - the colors used in the chart are unreadable.

1. A new Figure 3 has been prepared to address this request (L247).

In Section 2.8. Statistical analyses it was written that the significance level p was 0.05. Meanwhile, in Table 2, the significance level was 0.01?

1. AU. We apologize for the mistake. Statistical significance was attributed to p values of p < 0.01. The mistake has been modified in the text (L221).

In table 2, the word "Pseudomonads" should be replaced by the word "Pseudomonas" (written in italics). In section 3.3, this error also appears in the text.

1. AU. Modified in the table 2 and in the text (L324,326).

Section 3.4. Microbiological and hygiene criteria for foodstuffs – what is WVB? It was probably a WTB sample.

1. We apologize for the mistake. The code WVB has been replaced whit WTB (L333).

Figure 4 – Abbreviations: the names of the genera and species should be written in italics.

1. Modified (367-369).

Table 4 – what the symbol ■ means?

1. The symbol ■ means the presence of the species identified in a given sample.