How do environment-dependent switching rates between susceptible and persister cells affect the dynamics of biofilms faced with antibiotics?

Simulation process. Biofilms grown for 5？h were then treated for 2 or 8？h and allowed to recover during another 5？h after antibiotic removal. Cells can switch between susceptible and persister phenotypes or be killed by the antibiotic. During treatments, susceptible cells die quickly and only persisters survive (k？？？kp). After antibiotic treatments, persisters that switch back to actively growing susceptible cells allow the biofilm to recover. To assess the effect of the switching strategies on the growth, survival and recovery of the biofilm, we focused on three time points: pre-treatment, post-treatment and post-recover