FIG 6.
Bacteriophage-mediated removal of 24-h-old S. aureus and S. epidermidis biofilms. Mono (A)- or dual (B)-species biofilms of S. aureus IPLA16-rifR and S. epidermidis LO5081 were treated with phage phiIPLA-RODI (dark gray), phage phiIPLA-C1C (light gray), or a mixture of both phages (white) for 4 h. Data on control biofilms are presented in black. Adhered cell counts and supernatant cell counts are expressed as log (CFU/well). The bacterial detection threshold was 10 log (CFU/ml). (C) Alternatively, the biomass was calculated by crystal violet staining of adhered cells after phage treatment. The absorbance was measured at a wavelength of 595 nm. Means and standard deviations were calculated for three biological replicates. Bars marked with an asterisk are significantly different from the control (ANOVA; P < 0.05), and bars marked with “a” indicate significantly different decreases in biomass between the treatment with the mixture of phages and the individual treatment with either phiIPLA-RODI or phiIPLA-C1C (ANOVA; P < 0.05).