# Bacteriophages against biofilms

> A cutaway graphical abstract: a biofilm in cross-section, read left to right as phages break a bacterial stronghold. The EPS matrix shields the bacteria from antibiotics; phage depolymerases cut the matrix open and let the phages in; the phages replicate and lyse the cells, and antibiotics then finish the survivors — phage–antibiotic synergy.

- Page: https://www.labcanvas.com/templates/graphical-abstracts/bacteriophages-against-biofilms
- Open in the LabCanvas editor (LabCanvas account): https://www.labcanvas.com/editor.html?template=phage-therapy-biofilms
- Updated: 2026-10-14
- Category: Graphical abstracts
- Method: Graphical abstract
- Starting materials: A bacterial biofilm: cells in a self-made EPS matrix, hard for antibiotics to clear
- Product: The biofilm broken open and the cells cleared by phages, with antibiotics in synergy
- Key result: ~4.5 orders of magnitude (~99.997%) fewer biofilm cells with an enzymatic phage (Lu & Collins 2007); 160 depolymerases across 143 phages (Pires et al. 2016); >7-fold more phage with sub-lethal cefotaxime (Comeau et al. 2007)
- Figure: 1920 × 1080 px, 206 editable layers (1 generated objects with settings)

## Steps

1. **Shielded**: Bacteria in the EPS matrix are protected; antibiotics penetrate poorly and the biofilm persists (Pires et al. 2016)
2. **Opened**: Phage depolymerases degrade the matrix polysaccharides, clearing channels the phages follow to cells in deeper layers; 160 depolymerases are known across 143 phages (Pires et al. 2016)
3. **Lysed**: Phages attach, inject, replicate and lyse the cells; an enzymatic phage cut biofilm cell counts ~4.5 orders of magnitude (Lu & Collins 2007)
4. **Synergy**: Antibiotics that could not get through before now reach the cells; sub-lethal antibiotics also boost phage growth (>7-fold), and phage-before-antibiotic kills most (Comeau et al. 2007; Chaudhry et al. 2017)

## Uses

- Graphical abstracts on phage therapy and biofilm infections
- Talks on depolymerases and phage–antibiotic synergy
- Teaching why biofilms resist antibiotics and how phages get in

## References

1. Lu & Collins, “Dispersing biofilms with engineered enzymatic bacteriophage”, PNAS 2007. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0704624104 (primary)
2. Pires et al., “Bacteriophage-encoded depolymerases: their diversity and biotechnological applications”, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 2016. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-015-7247-0 (review)
3. Comeau et al., “Phage-Antibiotic Synergy (PAS): β-lactam and quinolone antibiotics stimulate virulent phage growth”, PLoS One 2007. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0000799 (primary)
4. Chaudhry et al., “Synergy and order effects of antibiotics and phages in killing Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms”, PLoS One 2017. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0168615 (primary)

Credit: Drawn by LabCanvas after Lu & Collins, PNAS 2007 (doi:10.1073/pnas.0704624104); Pires et al., Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 2016 (doi:10.1007/s00253-015-7247-0); Comeau et al., PLoS One 2007 (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000799); and Chaudhry et al., PLoS One 2017 (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0168615).

## Questions

**What does the “Bacteriophages against biofilms” template show?** A cutaway graphical abstract: a biofilm in cross-section, read left to right as phages break a bacterial stronghold. The EPS matrix shields the bacteria from antibiotics; phage depolymerases cut the matrix open and let the phages in; the phages replicate and lyse the cells, and antibiotics then finish the survivors — phage–antibiotic synergy.

**What are the steps shown in “Bacteriophages against biofilms”?** 1. Shielded: Bacteria in the EPS matrix are protected; antibiotics penetrate poorly and the biofilm persists (Pires et al. 2016). 2. Opened: Phage depolymerases degrade the matrix polysaccharides, clearing channels the phages follow to cells in deeper layers; 160 depolymerases are known across 143 phages (Pires et al. 2016). 3. Lysed: Phages attach, inject, replicate and lyse the cells; an enzymatic phage cut biofilm cell counts ~4.5 orders of magnitude (Lu & Collins 2007). 4. Synergy: Antibiotics that could not get through before now reach the cells; sub-lethal antibiotics also boost phage growth (>7-fold), and phage-before-antibiotic kills most (Comeau et al. 2007; Chaudhry et al. 2017).

**What are the starting materials and the product?** Starting materials: A bacterial biofilm: cells in a self-made EPS matrix, hard for antibiotics to clear. Product: The biofilm broken open and the cells cleared by phages, with antibiotics in synergy.

**Which papers is “Bacteriophages against biofilms” based on?** Lu & Collins, “Dispersing biofilms with engineered enzymatic bacteriophage”, PNAS 2007 (doi:10.1073/pnas.0704624104); Pires et al., “Bacteriophage-encoded depolymerases: their diversity and biotechnological applications”, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 2016 (doi:10.1007/s00253-015-7247-0); Comeau et al., “Phage-Antibiotic Synergy (PAS): β-lactam and quinolone antibiotics stimulate virulent phage growth”, PLoS One 2007 (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000799); Chaudhry et al., “Synergy and order effects of antibiotics and phages in killing Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms”, PLoS One 2017 (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0168615).

**Can I edit the “Bacteriophages against biofilms” template?** Yes. Open it in the LabCanvas editor: all 206 layers are editable, including 1 generated objects (structures, plots, equipment) with their own settings. Change the text, colours and layout, then export PNG, TIFF, SVG or PDF.

**Do I need an account to use this template?** Not to view it here. To open and edit it, sign in to LabCanvas or create a free account (the free plan keeps up to 3 designs). Downloading the figure is part of LabCanvas Pro (US$19 a month or US$199 a year).