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Bacteria and virus confusion

Hey guys this has been confusing me for a long time.. In textbooks it states that bacteria damages your cells and so does viruses, they both reproduce . It also says that cell damage is what makes you feel ill. WHATS THE DIFFERENCE? and why do antibiotics not work on viruses when they both damage cells? Thanks in advance
Reply 1
Avatar for Eloades11
Eloades11
17
Good question. The difference in why antibiotics work on bacteria and not viruses boils down to their structures. Bacteria have Gram negative or Gram positive membranes. Antibiotics work in different ways. Penicillin for example works to prevent peptidoglycan synthesis, a structure present in bacteria. Viruses are a lot smaller and don't have the same structural features as bacteria. This is why viruses are unaffected by antibiotics.
Reply 2
Avatar for Dynamo123
Dynamo123
7
Original post by Eloades11
Good question. The difference in why antibiotics work on bacteria and not viruses boils down to their structures. Bacteria have Gram negative or Gram positive membranes. Antibiotics work in different ways. Penicillin for example works to prevent peptidoglycan synthesis, a structure present in bacteria. Viruses are a lot smaller and don't have the same structural features as bacteria. This is why viruses are unaffected by antibiotics.


To add, the immune system makes interferon against viruses.
Furthermore, viruses are considered technically non-living. They do not reproduce themselves; they only sorta hijack the cellular biosynthetic machinery of cells and use it to make their products (or more viruses).
Reply 3
Avatar for ash92:)
ash92:)
22
Adding to the above,

bacteria may or may not 'damage your cells'. Often, they feeling of illness is due to chemicals that participate in the healing process (eg interleukin-1). These chemicals are made/released in the body when bacteria/viruses are detected.
Reply 4
Avatar for Dynamo123
Dynamo123
7
Adding a bit more :colone:

There are useful bacteria in the body too, like gut flora and commensal bacteria that make vitamin K and biotin.
Reply 5
Avatar for artymaniac
artymaniac
OP
13
Thanks for everyones help, really cleared things up:smile:
Reply 6
Avatar for Dynamo123
Dynamo123
7
Original post by artymaniac
Thanks for everyones help, really cleared things up:smile:


No problem. :smile: Ask on this forum or PM anything you want to ask. :smile:
Reply 7
Avatar for artymaniac
artymaniac
OP
13
Original post by Dynamo123
No problem. :smile: Ask on this forum or PM anything you want to ask. :smile:


thanks really appreciate it!

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