Bacteria VS Virus
- innovatewithstem12
- Sep 9, 2024
- 3 min read
Miriam Kelton
Published: September 9, 2024
I think it’s fair to say we have all had a time when we’ve been very unwell and begged our parents to give us something to treat our never-ending sickness. The crazy thing is; that there isn’t always something to fight the microorganisms invading our bodies. Learning about these fascinating microbes can help us understand how they affect us and our health. Let’s start by discussing the similarities between bacteria and viruses. They are both microscopic organisms that cause illness in humans. They both contain genetic material such as DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid, or RNA, ribonucleic acid.
We can learn a lot by looking at the differences in their structure. Bacteria are much more complex in composition than viruses. Bacteria are living and have a cell wall made up of peptidoglycan and lipopolysaccharide which surrounds the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane. This cell wall plays an important part in treatment through antibiotics. Healthy bacteria are essential for the body to perform its daily functions and the reason that bacteria can’t always be classified as harmful. This necessary bacteria can be found in your gut, digestive system, and skin. Bacteria belong to the Kingdom Monera and can be characterized as Eubacteria or Archaea. Bacteria are prokaryotes and can exist in different shapes such as coccus, bacillus, or spirillum. They reproduce asexually via binary fission.
The structure of viruses is unique from that of bacteria and much more simplistic. They contain coiled DNA and RNA in a capsid, surrounded by a protein coat. Viruses are non-living and acellular, and they cannot replicate beyond the host cell. The systems they use to multiply is attachment, entry, replication, assembly, and release. Viruses are not needed by other living organisms such as humans, and antibiotics do not kill viruses. They can be found in much more complex shapes than viruses.
It will be helpful to compare illnesses caused by bacteria vs viruses to help us understand how they affect us. Most sore throats, the common cold, Covid-19, and HPV are examples of illnesses caused by viruses. While there are some antiviral treatments, most viral infections do not have treatments. You probably know that when you get that winter cold everyone has at school, there is no treatment. You stay home, rest it out, and maybe drink some tea with honey. On the other hand, illnesses such as Strep Throat, Pertussis, Meningitis, and Salmonella are treatable with antibiotics.
So, you might be wondering how antibiotics fight bacteria and therefore what can cause antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics target infections in several different ways. One way this is done is by preventing cell wall formations by interfering with peptidoglycan synthesis. An example of this type of antibiotic is penicillin. Other antibiotics work to prevent DNA replication by interfering with the coiling of DNA strands. Finally, antibiotics can work to prevent protein synthesis, ultimately blocking the bacterial cell from performing its necessary functions. It is also important to use antibiotics sparingly and with proper use to prevent antibiotic resistance. This happens when bacteria evolve mechanisms to protect themselves from the antibiotic's effects. The resistance can then pass on those genes to other bacteria causing future harm to our health.
In summary, bacteria and viruses differ fundamentally in their biology and behavior. Bacteria can grow and reproduce on their own and, therefore considered living organisms. Viruses, however, are not considered living since they are unable to replicate without a host cell. Although these structures are different in their ways, it is truly remarkable how they function and connect with our intricate bodies.
Sources:
Aryal, Sagar. “Bacteria vs. Virus: 28 Differences with Examples.” Microbe Notes, 6 June 2023, https://microbenotes.com/differences-between-bacteria-and-virus/. Accessed 7 September 2024.
Griffin, Kathleen. “Bacteria Lesson.” Bio Rescue, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QZUjI6k6oTqCvY-si7Ooqcd5XafmxlXC/view. Accessed 25 08 2024.
Sheikh, Zilpah, et al. “Bacterial vs. Viral Infections: The Differences Explained.” WebMD, 2 June 2024, https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/bacterial-and-viral-infections. Accessed 7 September 2024.
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