Spores of a number of species are the causative agents in a variety of human illnesses, including wound infections, tetanus, wound botulism, intestinal infections and intestinal intoxications. Consequently, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, all of which may harbour spores, have the potential to cause serious disease and must be treated to destroy spores.

In this supplement Professor Peter Setlow describes the formation, structure and properties of spores of Bacillus and Clostridium species and various methods for killing them.