Table 1 Experiment setup to evaluate the efficiency of phage therapy for the treatment of G. mellonella using single phage dose, multiple phage doses and phage cocktails

 SET 1

Control I (untreated)

Larvae were injected with 20 μL of saline.

 SET 2

Control II

Larvae were infected with 20 μL of bacteria (10⁸ CFU/mL).

 SET 3

Control III

Larvae were injected with 20 μL of phage lysate (10⁴ PFU/mL).

 SET 4

Test-1

Larvae were infected with 20 μL of bacteria and treated with 20 μL phages within 1 h.

 GROUP-1

Single dose

Larvae were infected with 20 μL of bacteria and treated at 0th hour using 20 μL of phages.

 GROUP-2

Double dose

Larvae were infected with 20 μL of bacteria and treated with two doses (20 μL each) of phages at 0th hour and at 6th hour.

 GROUP-3

Triple dose

Larvae were infected with 20 μL of bacteria and treated with three doses (20 μL each) of phages at 0th hour, at 6th hour and 12th hours.

 GROUP-4

Quadruple dose

Larvae were infected with 20 μL of bacteria and treated with four doses (20 μL each) of phages at 0th hour, at 6th, 12th and 24th hours.

 GROUP-A

Single cocktail dose

Larvae were infected with 20 μL of bacterial mixture and treated at 0th hour using 20 μL of phage cocktail.

 GROUP-B

Double cocktail dose

Larvae were infected with 20 μL of bacterial mixture and treated at 0th hour and at 6th hour using 20 μL of phage cocktail.

 GROUP-C

Triple cocktail dose

Larvae were infected with 20 μL of bacterial mixture and treated at 0th hour and at 6th, 12th hour using 20 μL of phage cocktail.

 GROUP-D

Quadruple cocktail dose

Larvae were infected with 20 μL of bacterial mixture and treated at 0th hour and at 6th, 12th, 24th hour using 20 μL of phage cocktail.

 GROUP-E

Quintuple cocktail dose

Larvae were infected with 20 μL of bacterial mixture and treated at 0th hour and at 6th, 12th, 24th, 30th hour using 20 μL of phage cocktail.