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In contrast to black infants in the general population, black infants born to college-educated parents have higher mortality rates than similar white infants only because of their higher rates of low birth weight. Black and white infants of normal birth weight have equivalent mortality rates.

The role of the flagellar structure in the in vitro adherence and in vivo colonization of Vibrio cholerae was studied by comparing the behavior of pairs of related motility variants. Although the presence of the flagellum seemed essential for in vitro attachment, the property of motility was neither necessary nor sufficient. Since it was possible to demonstrate independently both motility and binding capacities associated with this structure, it was concluded that the flagellum functions as the carrier of the moieties that promote adherence. Studies using the infant mouse cholera model unequivocally demonstrated the in vivo significance of a functional flagellum and suggested that this structure enhances virulence by facilitating the initial colonization of the small bowel.