Cover photograph (Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.): Ligation of mycolic acids to structural components of the mycobacterial cell wall by a group of enzymes called Fbp generates a hydrophobic, impermeable barrier that provides resistance to antibiotics and other toxic compounds. Disruption of the Mycobacterium smegmatis fbpA gene led to increased sensitivity to both frontline tuberculosis-targeted drugs and broad-spectrum antibiotics widely used for antibacterial chemotherapy. The irregular, hydrophobic surface of wild-type M. smegmatis colonies (left) became hydrophilic and smooth in the mutant (right). These data support the concept that FbpA-specific inhibitors, alone or in combination with other antibiotics, could provide an effective treatment for tuberculosis (See related article on page 6603.)