Differences between viruses and bacteria

differences between whole viruses and bacteria

When we get sick that we have to resort to different medications, the origin of the disease is often confused as to whether it is caused by a virus or bacteria. There are numerous differences between virus and bacteria that must be taken into account when treating the different symptoms and preventing serious damage.

In this article we are going to tell you what are the main differences between viruses and bacteria and what are the main diseases.

Generalities

virus

Viruses are smaller than bacteria and have a great capacity for mutation and contagion. The illnesses caused by these two types of germs are treated in very different ways.

Although little by little more information is being known, in the world there are many doubts that revolve around the new coronavirus. Among so many questions, due to ignorance or misinformation, often in the population the question arises as to whether the coronavirus can be treated with antibiotics. The answer is no: no virus can be treated with antibiotics, which are only used to treat infections caused by bacteria. Diseases caused by viruses and bacteria are treated in very different ways because they do not act in the same way in the body they affect.

Viruses and bacteria are microscopic in size, are on almost every surface, and are the cause of many diseases. But they are not the same.

Definition of bacteria and viruses

serious diseases

Bacteria are single-celled organisms and they obtain nutrients from the environment in which they live. They can cause problems like cavities, urinary tract infections, ear infections, or strep throat, just to name a few. But bacteria do not always cause diseases: some of them have beneficial effects, for example, help the normal functioning of the digestive system, They help process and obtain nutrients from food and prevent harmful bacteria from entering. Certain types of bacteria are even used to make life-saving drugs or vaccines.

Viruses are smaller than bacteria. They are not whole cells: they are just genetic material encased in a protein layer. They need other cell structures to reproduce, which means that they cannot live on their own unless they live in other organisms (such as humans, plants, or animals).

Some viruses can kill bacteria or fight more deadly viruses. They are called bacteriophages or bacteriophages ("swallow" in Greek): they infect and destroy specific bacteria located on the mucous membranes of the digestive, respiratory and reproductive systems.

The virus can survive outside living cells for a short period of time. However, once they enter the human body, they multiply rapidly and can make people sick. They can cause some mild illnesses, such as the common cold, and other serious illnesses, such as smallpox or AIDS, caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

They have a strong mutation capacity, which does not necessarily mean that they become more aggressive, but their genetic material has changed, that is, the structure of the virus genome located within the particle can be DNA or RNA. Viruses also have a high contagion power, causing pandemics, when an epidemic disease spreads to many countries.

Differences between viruses and bacteria

differences between viruses and bacteria

There are numerous differences between viruses and bacteria, as we are going to list and detail below:

Size: bacteria are 100 times bigger than viruses. Taking into account that in both cases, they are invisible to the human eye and can only be detected with a special microscope. Bacteria can be seen with an optical microscope, while viruses can only be detected with an electron microscope, using electromagnetic lenses.

Structure: the composition of the virus is slightly simpler, consisting of genomic RNA or DNA particles wrapped in a protein coat. In contrast, bacteria have a more complex internal structure and their cell wall is where the cytoplasm, ribosomes, and the bacterial genome are located.

Reproduction: This is another problem that viruses and bacteria do not share. Bacteria have the ability to grow and reproduce on their own. More divisions can be generated from these cells. Viruses do not have the ability to divide by themselves, they replicate endlessly and attack other cells to transmit their genetic information. They replicate, but in the living cells of the host they infect and cause disease.

Resistance: Bacteria exist in almost all habitats on earth and their mechanism makes it highly resistant. For this reason, unlike viruses, they can survive extreme temperatures and survive long periods outside of other organisms. Another fact that increases their viability is that they can obtain food from many different sources, organic and inorganic.

As for viruses, in general, they can survive for hours or even days, especially on hard stainless steel or plastic surfaces, but over time, their infectivity will decrease because viruses cannot replicate.

Transmission: the biggest difference between viruses and bacteria. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses, they cannot kill them, and they also pose a serious risk to patients due to the emergence of bacterial resistance. At the same time, antiviral drugs have been developed to attack certain viruses.

If the source of the disease is bacteria and adequate antibiotics are available, treatment is relatively inexpensive and, upon completion of the treatment plan, will usually return to normal within a few days or weeks. If the origin of the disease is a virus, the situation will be complicated because there is no equivalent level of antiviral drugs in both quantity and efficacy.

Thus, healthcare professionals are faced with effective treatment of highly pathogenic bacterial infections and viral infections caused by viruses. These viruses are not as pathogenic, but there are no effective treatments. Therefore, they are used in older people with weak immune systems to see if the pathology is very serious or previous in the patient.

I hope that with this information you can learn more about the differences between viruses and bacteria.


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