Phage-derived lysins as potential agents for eradicating biofilms and persisters

•Infections involving biofilms are often chronic and are difficult to treat.•Biofilms show phenotypic resistance to most antibiotics.•Phage lysins show potent antibiofilm activity on biofilms of pathogenic bacteria.•Phage lysins kill persisters that show phenotypic resistance to antibiotics.•Phage lysins can be developed as therapeutics for treating chronic infections.