Abstract Administrator Review Wide

Please describe the work of this project with more precision.  The aims listed don't mention the type of assay for capsaicin evoked activity, so step (1) is not clear.  Aim 2 mentions NGF, but not that NGF is added to capsaicin treated DRGs.  For aim 3, in it unclear why the recombinant LC/E BoNT/A was used rather than just BoNT/E or /A.

Methods:  The method of quantification is not mentioned.

Results:  'larger' is a vague term.  Was it significantly greater (p<0.05)?  The NGF mentions two concentrations of capsaicin, but the capsaicin treatment does not.

The conclusion is very clear except that it is still unclear why the LC/E BoNT/A was  used rather than a wt BoNT.  Without data on the activity of this recombinant construct it is unclear whether conclusions can be based on normal BoNT activity.

Comment from author: On behalf of my co-authors and myself, I wish to thank you and the members of the Toxins 2021 Organizing Committee for reviewing our abstract and for communicating their constructive comments. I enclose with this email a revised version that incorporates all the suggested improvements plus new data to clarify points, as was requested. As for use of LC/E-BoNT/A, we have prioritised experiments with this chimera in line with objectives of currently funded projects and we now include biochemical data that supports our conclusions. Additionally, a more appropriate and prominent citation of published work with detailed biochemical and functional characterisation of LC/E-BoNT/A has been inserted.

11/2/2020 - To Dr. Pellett for review

11/2/2020 - Requested revisions from author

11/4/2020 - Received revisions from author

11/4/2020 - To Dr. Pellett for 2nd review

11/5/2020 - To Carol for review

11/6/2020 - To author for final review/approval

11/16/2020 - Sent reminder

11/19/2020 - Author made revisions and resent abstract in email.  Author approved

11/19/2020 - Uploaded final abstract