Exploring Phages Through Play: Creative 3D models for Science Engagement
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Phages are viruses that infect bacteria and have therapeutic potential due to their ability to selectively kill bacterial pathogens. Despite growing scientific and policy interest in phage therapy, public and professional understanding of phages remains limited, posing a barrier to wider clinical adoption. Here, we present the development and evaluation of open-source, 3D-printed microbial models designed to communicate core concepts in phage biology, including phage diversity, host specificity, and life cycle differences between virulent and temperate phages. These tactile, compact models were tested across multiple public engagement events with diverse audiences. Survey data showed high usability and educational value, 90% of participants reported improved understanding of phage-bacteria interactions, and many expressed interest in learning more. Thematic analysis of qualitative feedback highlighted sustained engagement and prompted iterative model refinements to improve clarity and accessibility. These models offer a low-cost, scalable tool to support outreach and education around phage biology, including its applications in treating drug-resistant infections. By bridging the gap between complex scientific concepts and public understanding, they contribute to broader efforts to build awareness of phage-based alternatives to traditional antibiotics.
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Thank you for submitting your paper to Access Microbiology. It has now been reviewed and I would like you to revise the paper in line with the reviewers' reports.
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Comments to Author
Line 26: 'scientific' and/or 'clinical' is probably a better word than professional and that also better aligns with the phrasing on line 69. Introduction Line 56: 'virulent phages over temperate phages' - to clarify, do you mean '…specific phages, preferentially virulent over temperate phages, due to their ability…' Methods Line 92 - what level of educators? School, FE or HE or all levels? Results and Discussion Figure 1: when you say schools, does that mean multiple year groups in that school or just a teach representing that school? Also, it would be great to see some of them with phage keys with a child (anonymized) holding one to have an idea on size and tactile features. Even better, a video if achievable/allowed in the journal submission. Line 253 - you mention low cost. Approximately how much do …
Comments to Author
Line 26: 'scientific' and/or 'clinical' is probably a better word than professional and that also better aligns with the phrasing on line 69. Introduction Line 56: 'virulent phages over temperate phages' - to clarify, do you mean '…specific phages, preferentially virulent over temperate phages, due to their ability…' Methods Line 92 - what level of educators? School, FE or HE or all levels? Results and Discussion Figure 1: when you say schools, does that mean multiple year groups in that school or just a teach representing that school? Also, it would be great to see some of them with phage keys with a child (anonymized) holding one to have an idea on size and tactile features. Even better, a video if achievable/allowed in the journal submission. Line 253 - you mention low cost. Approximately how much do they each cost to make?
Please confirm that no generative AI tools or large language models have been used to generate this peer review report or to assist with any part of the peer review process.
I confirm no generative AI tools were used in preparation of this review.
Please rate the manuscript for methodological rigour
Very good
Please rate the quality of the presentation and structure of the manuscript
Very good
To what extent are the conclusions supported by the data?
Strongly support
Do you have any concerns of possible image manipulation, plagiarism or any other unethical practices?
No
Is there a potential financial or other conflict of interest between yourself and the author(s)?
No
If this manuscript involves human and/or animal work, have the subjects been treated in an ethical manner and the authors complied with the appropriate guidelines?
Yes
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Comments to Author
Overall, this manuscript is a well-put-together record of how science engagement with 3D models can help deliver key educational messages and foster wider public understanding of previously hard-to-understand scientific knowledge. The paper is well organised and is easy to follow, delivering the key findings in a scientific and accessible manner. Your introduction provides a clear context for the need for alternative avenues for learning, such as 3D models, which can successfully bridge the gap between complex scientific phenomena and public understanding, as well as current attitudes and perceptions of phages and viruses in medicine. Line 55- for the reader, it would be useful to break up this sentence into two parts, one sentence to define what phage therapy is, and a second sentence to describe the type of phages …
Comments to Author
Overall, this manuscript is a well-put-together record of how science engagement with 3D models can help deliver key educational messages and foster wider public understanding of previously hard-to-understand scientific knowledge. The paper is well organised and is easy to follow, delivering the key findings in a scientific and accessible manner. Your introduction provides a clear context for the need for alternative avenues for learning, such as 3D models, which can successfully bridge the gap between complex scientific phenomena and public understanding, as well as current attitudes and perceptions of phages and viruses in medicine. Line 55- for the reader, it would be useful to break up this sentence into two parts, one sentence to define what phage therapy is, and a second sentence to describe the type of phages used and why, as you only briefly touch upon the fact that virulent phages are used. This will improve the clarity of this paragraph. Line 72- Add reference The methods section provides a clear framework of how this work was carried out. For clarity, I think you could add more detail in 3.1 Identifying Interest; it is quite vague, and detailing your "early discussions" would help clarify how you engaged with these stakeholders beyond this description. In the 3 educational messages you set to deliver, it would be useful to explain why they are important and how you decided on these 3 messages to deliver. Lines 133- 138 discuss iterative changes to the model; it could be useful here to include in your supplementary table 1 which event the quote was from, if available, and to link to the specific design changes you identified and made because of this quote/ group of quotes. The results and discussion are well laid out. The figures are clear and effectively support the key findings. I particularly like the feedback figure, which makes the survey information easy to digest for readers. One main improvement here would be to include a quote/quotes per theme discussed in the results section. Whilst quotes are provided in the supplementary, I think the results and discussion would be more impactful if you could include a quote that represents the theme. For example, you could include a quote from an individual who provided positive feedback on their "newfound awareness and interest in phage biology" (line 197). This shifts the section's focus back to the participants who shared their feedback, highlighting their central role in the project.
Please rate the manuscript for methodological rigour
Good
Please rate the quality of the presentation and structure of the manuscript
Very good
To what extent are the conclusions supported by the data?
Strongly support
Do you have any concerns of possible image manipulation, plagiarism or any other unethical practices?
No
Is there a potential financial or other conflict of interest between yourself and the author(s)?
No
If this manuscript involves human and/or animal work, have the subjects been treated in an ethical manner and the authors complied with the appropriate guidelines?
Yes
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