Synergistic efficacy of phages along with vancomycin for eradication of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis biofilms

Figure 1 Phage isolation and characterization. A and B: Double agar overlay plate showing plaques on Enterococcus faecalis; C: pH tolerance; D: One-step growth curve.

Figure 2 Time-kill assays of phage-antibiotic synergy on the planktonic form of Enterococcus faecalis. A: Bacterial colony counts; B: Phage titre in time-kill assays.

Figure 3 Viable counts of planktonic Enterococcus faecalis (10⁸ CFUs/mL) following a sequential treatment of phage (1 × 10⁸ PFUs/mL) and vancomycin (16 µg/mL).

Figure 4 Optimization of concentration and timing of addition of phage. A: Effect of timing of addition of phage on the lysis of planktonic form of Enterococcus faecalis; B: Effect of different concentrations of phage on lysis of the host bacteria when the antibiotic was added after 8 hours of phage administration; C: Effect of different concentrations of phage when added simultaneously with antibiotic.

Figure 5 Percentage biomass reduction of biofilm at different settings. AF: Antibiotic first; PF: Phage first; SIM: Simultaneously.