Spore-forming Bacilli and Clostridia in human disease
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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Detecting Cortex Fragments During Bacterial Spore Germination
Published on: June 25, 2016
Michael Mallozzi1, V K Viswanathan, Gayatri Vedantam
1Department of Veterinary Science and Microbiology, University of Arizona, 1117, East Lowell St., Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
Abstract:
Many Gram-positive spore-forming bacteria in the Firmicute phylum are important members of the human commensal microbiota, which, in rare cases, cause opportunistic infections. Other spore-formers, however, have evolved to become dedicated pathogens that can cause a striking variety of diseases. Despite variations in disease presentation, the etiologic agent is often the spore, with bacterially produced toxins playing a central role in the pathophysiology of infection. This review will focus on the specific diseases caused by spores of the Clostridia and Bacilli.
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