Review for 10.1186/s12876-017-0629-2 (2017)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Alteration of gut microbiota in association with cholesterol gallstone formation in mice  
 
Version: 0 Date: 06 Mar 2017  
 
Reviewer: Guixiang Ji  
 
Reviewer's repor t: 
 
Gut microbiota is a hot area for studies in metabolic disease. This manuscript also should 
alteration of fecal microbiota in mice by LD diet and suggested a role in promoting gallstone 
formation. The study is novel and the results are sound.  
 
 
 
 
Minor points:  
 
1) The authors found increased abundance of genus Clostridium which contains 7alpha -
dehydroxylase activity, was this change related with DCA level?  
 
 
 
2) In discussion, the author compared the findings with Islam et al. How was the cholic acid 
dose in compari son between the two studies?  
 
 
 
3) Akkermansia increased in mice fed with LD diet, was it related with mucin secretion, gut 
barrier permeability? Please discussed.  
 
 
 
4) Cladogram figure would be presented in Figure 4 in accompany with LDA analysis, if 
possible.  
 
 
 
5) Somepropriate references should be added, such as Line 55 -56,'influencing intestinal 
cholesterol absorption'; Line 73: 'as obesity, diabetes';Line 61, reference 16 needs to be 
check again in relation with the context.  
 
 
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please  specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspe cts require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable   
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete  a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for an y patents relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competin g interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing  interests  
 
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