Methods for enhancing destruction and killing of bacterial spores via phagocytosis, where phagocytosis of bacterial spores is enhanced by using a glycoconjugate. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of modifying a surface of a bacterial spore to increase adherence to a phagocyte; and ingesting the adherence-increased spore with the phagocyte, thereby destructing and killing the spore by blocking spore-induced phagocyte cell death, while increasing phagocyte activation level and production of antimicrobial and cytocidal agents such as NO and inflammatory cytokines. The adherence of spore to a phagocyte is increased after the surface thereof is coated with a glycoconjugate to form a glycoconjugate-coated spores. The glycoconjugate-coated spores also increase ingestion of the spores by phagocytes and facilitate phagosome-lysosome fusion, which in turn results in destruction and killing of bacterial spores via phagocytosis. The method enhances adherence, ingestion, destruction and killing of bacterial spores via phagocytes, which otherwise may be resistant to phagocytosis.