Biology
Watch
Announcements
Page 1 of 1
Skip to page:
Report
#2
Antibiotics aren't used for viruses because viruses live inside your body's cells. Antibiotics would damage your own cells too if they were used.
0
reply
Report
#4
You may need to use an antibiotic is there is a risk of developing a secondary infection as a result of a temporary weakening of the immune system due to the virus. This usually isn’t necessary, you can kick the virus with diet, liquids and rest.
Unless you’re talking serious potentially lethal viruses... very different story, hiv would require strong antiviral drugs and monitoring.
Unless you’re talking serious potentially lethal viruses... very different story, hiv would require strong antiviral drugs and monitoring.
0
reply
Report
#5
(Original post by Connor_H)
Antibiotics aren't used for viruses because viruses live inside your body's cells. Antibiotics would damage your own cells too if they were used.
Antibiotics aren't used for viruses because viruses live inside your body's cells. Antibiotics would damage your own cells too if they were used.
0
reply
Report
#7
(Original post by Connor_H)
I'm assuming this is for GCSE Biology. If so, the answer I gave was correct.....
I'm assuming this is for GCSE Biology. If so, the answer I gave was correct.....
I think you are getting antibiotics confused with antivirals. Antiviral drugs are difficult to develop because they can be extremely damaging to host cells not antibiotics.
Antibiotics ≠ Antivirals
0
reply
Report
#9
(Original post by Connor_H)
I'm assuming this is for GCSE Biology. If so, the answer I gave was correct.....
I'm assuming this is for GCSE Biology. If so, the answer I gave was correct.....
"Antibiotics damage the bacterial cells but do not damage the host cells."
So maybe look at your marking scheme again or revise a little harder.
https://www.bbc.com/education/guides/zs6q2p3/revision/6
1
reply
Report
#10
(Original post by TomW624)
Just in case you argue back again I looked on bitesize for GCSE Biology to find a simple way to put this to you and found this exact quote:
"Antibiotics damage the bacterial cells but do not damage the host cells."
So maybe look at your marking scheme again or revise a little harder.
https://www.bbc.com/education/guides/zs6q2p3/revision/6
Just in case you argue back again I looked on bitesize for GCSE Biology to find a simple way to put this to you and found this exact quote:
"Antibiotics damage the bacterial cells but do not damage the host cells."
So maybe look at your marking scheme again or revise a little harder.
https://www.bbc.com/education/guides/zs6q2p3/revision/6
"Viral diseases cannot be cured by antibiotics, because they reproduce inside the host cells."
As simple as that I assume but depends how many marks the question is really. You could discuss how antibiotics are designed to target bacterial cells to disrupt their cell walls, inhibit reproduction and what not while not effecting self cells. You could also state that the targets that antibiotics are designed for are not present on viruses because of their completely different structure and reproduction processes and therefore they will not have any effect.
0
reply
Report
#12
(Original post by Connor_H)
Yeah I think I got mixed up between them. Sorry.
Yeah I think I got mixed up between them. Sorry.

You just admitted you were wrong on TSR I think you deserve some kind of award haha
0
reply
(Original post by TomW624)
And OP here's an answer to your question from bitesize too:
"Viral diseases cannot be cured by antibiotics, because they reproduce inside the host cells."
As simple as that I assume but depends how many marks the question is really. You could discuss how antibiotics are designed to target bacterial cells to disrupt their cell walls, inhibit reproduction and what not while not effecting self cells. You could also state that the targets that antibiotics are designed for are not present on viruses because of their completely different structure and reproduction processes and therefore they will not have any effect.
And OP here's an answer to your question from bitesize too:
"Viral diseases cannot be cured by antibiotics, because they reproduce inside the host cells."
As simple as that I assume but depends how many marks the question is really. You could discuss how antibiotics are designed to target bacterial cells to disrupt their cell walls, inhibit reproduction and what not while not effecting self cells. You could also state that the targets that antibiotics are designed for are not present on viruses because of their completely different structure and reproduction processes and therefore they will not have any effect.
0
reply
Report
#14
(Original post by sfranklin2001)
Yes, it is GCSE and it was a question about why they couldn't use antibiotics to treat EVD (Ebola virus disease). So could I just say "it was because it would damage the cells" as it is worth one mark?
Yes, it is GCSE and it was a question about why they couldn't use antibiotics to treat EVD (Ebola virus disease). So could I just say "it was because it would damage the cells" as it is worth one mark?
0
reply
X
Page 1 of 1
Skip to page:
Quick Reply
Back
to top
to top