Review for 10.1186/s12876-018-0785-z (2018)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Intestinal Candida parapsilosis isolates from Rett syndrome subjects bear potential  virulent 
traits and capacity to persist within the host  
 
Version: 0 Date: 26 Nov 2017  
 
Reviewer: Gianluca Ianiro  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This is a pilot case -control study that investigated the composition of cultivable fungal species in 
Rett Syndrome. The paper is interesting, but has some major drawbacks that prevents the 
publication  in my opinion  
1) Why didn't authors assess also the gut bacteriome?  
 
2) Data for controls and patient (e.g. age, use of drugs, especially antibiotics, diet, etc) are not 
provided  
 
3) Assessing only cultivable microbes is not acceptable in 2017  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify wh at 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 aspects require  further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
  
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 publi cation of this  
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3. Do you hold or are you curr ently applying for any 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 competing 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.  
 
None  
 
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