Bacteria thrive in virtually all environments. Like all other living organisms, bacteria may
encounter various types of stresses, to which cells need to adapt. In this chapter, we
describe how cells cope with stressful conditions and how this may lead to dramatic
morphological changes. These changes may not only allow harmless cells to withstand
environmental insults but can also benefit pathogenic bacteria by enabling them to escape
from the immune system and the activity of antibiotics. A better understanding of stress …