Cover photograph (Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.): Scanning electron micrograph of corrugated colony morphology of a rugose phase-variant of Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor. V. cholerae, the etiologic agent of the disease cholera can switch between smooth and rugose colony morphotypes, which differ markedly in their biofilm-forming capacities and stress resistance properties. This ability is predicted to be important for environmental survival of the pathogen and is controlled by a complex regulatory circuitry. (See related article on page 1574.)
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