Vibrio cholerae is a comma-shaped, gram-negative bacteria that can cause cholera in humans. It has several key characteristics: it is a curved rod shape; gram-negative; and motile with a single polar flagellum. The plan is to incorporate V. cholerae's ability to produce toxins that cause watery diarrhea into fruit flies. Researchers will test if flies can act as hosts for V. cholerae in nature, as related arthropods may serve as true hosts.