Journal Cover & Description
Cover image

Cover photograph: The extracellular adherence protein Eap and cell wall-anchored SasG compensate for one another in formation of a protein-dependent Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, but only Eap plays a key role in the ruggedness of biofilm structure. In addition, both proteins contribute to the pathogenicity of S. aureus in a silkworm infection model. S. aureus biofilm was grown in glucose-supplemented brain heart infusion medium, fixed in glutaraldehyde, and visualized by atmospheric scanning electron microscopy. Low (gray)- and high (yellow)-magnification images are merged with Photoshop. Highlighted ribbon models colored in red and blue are indicative of Eap and SasG, respectively. (See related article in April 2019, vol. 87, e00894-18.) (Copyright © 2019 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.)