How to Differentiate Between Bacteria and Virus

Know the basic difference. There are fundamental differences between bacteria and viruses in terms of size, origin, and impact on the body. ^[1]

• Viruses are the smallest and simplest life forms; they are only 1/100 to 1/10th the size of bacteria.
• Bacteria are unicellular and can live inside or outside of other cells. They can survive without host cells. ^[2] Meanwhile, viruses are intracellular organisms, which means they infect a host cell and live within that cell. Viruses change the host cell’s genetic material from functioning normally to producing the virus itself.
• Antibiotics cannot kill viruses but can kill most bacteria unless the bacteria are resistant to antibiotics. ^[3] Misuse or abuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics tend to be less effective against dangerous bacteria in the future. ^[4] Gram-negative bacteria are highly resistant to therapeutic antibiotics, but can be killed by some other antibiotics. ^[5]

Recognize differences in reproductive mechanisms. Viruses must have a living host cell to reproduce, like plants or animals, whereas most bacteria can grow on non-living surfaces. ^[6]

• Bacteria have the necessary “machinery” (cell organelles) to grow and multiply and often reproduce asexually.
• In contrast, viruses often contain information – DNA or RNA, for example, surrounded by a protective coating of proteins. They need host cell organs to reproduce. The “legs” of the virus attach to the cell surface and the genetic material in the virus infects the cell. In other words, a virus is not really a “living” organism, but a genome containing information (DNA or RNA) that moves around until it meets a suitable host.

Determine whether an organism is beneficial to the body. Although it may seem hard to believe, a lot of tiny creatures live in our bodies (but are different from our bodies). In fact, if only the number of cells is taken into account, the human body is 90% bacteria and only 10% cells. ^[7] Many bacteria exist peacefully in the body; Some also perform very important tasks such as making vitamins, breaking down waste and creating oxygen. ^[8]

• For example, the majority of digestion is done by a type of bacteria called “gut bacteria”. These bacteria also help maintain the pH balance in the body. ^[9]
• While we are familiar with the term “helpful bacteria” (like gut bacteria), there are also “helpful” viruses, such as phages, that work to “hijack” the cell organelles of bacteria. bacteria and destroy that cell. ^[10] Researchers from Yale University have created a virus that can destroy brain tumors. ^[11] However, most viruses have not been shown to function beneficially in humans. They are usually just harmful.

Determines whether an organism meets the criteria for life. Although there is no clear, formal concept of what constitutes life, scientists agree that bacteria are unquestionably living organisms. Meanwhile, viruses are like zombies: they’re not dead, but they’re certainly not living things either. For example, viruses have some characteristics of life such as having genetic material, evolving over time through natural selection, and being able to reproduce by making multiple copies of themselves. However, viruses do not have their own cellular structure or metabolism; they need host cells to reproduce. On the other hand, viruses are not essentially living organisms. Consider the following characteristics:

• When it does not infect another cell’s organ, the virus becomes inactive. There is no biological process going on within them. They cannot exchange nutrients, create or excrete waste, or move on their own. In other words, they are very much like a lifeless substance. They can survive in such a “lifeless” state for long periods of time. ^[12]
• When they come into contact with a cell that the virus can infect, they attach to that cell and a protein-soluble enzyme into the cell wall to inject genetic material into that cell. At this point, having hijacked the cell to make copies of itself, the virus begins to show one of the key features of life: the ability to pass genetic material into generations. later viruses, producing more organisms like them. ^[13]

Identify common bacterial and viral causes of illness. If you are sick and you know what it is, finding out if you have a bacterial or viral infection can be as simple as finding out information about the illness. Common illnesses caused by bacteria and viruses include:

• Bacteria : Pneumonia, food poisoning (usually caused by E. cpi bacteria), meningitis, strep throat, ear infections, wound infections, gonorrhea. ^[14]
• Viruses : flu, chickenpox, common cold, hepatitis B, rubella, SARS, measles, Ebpa, genital warts (HPV), herpes, rabies, HIV (the virus that causes AIDS).
• Note that some illnesses such as diarrhea and “measles” can be caused by either of these organisms.
• If you don’t know exactly what the disease is, it can be difficult to tell the difference between bacteria and viruses because it is difficult to distinguish the symptoms of each cause. Both bacteria and viruses cause dizziness, vomiting, fever, exhaustion, and general malaise. The best (and sometimes only) way to determine if you have a bacterial or viral infection is to see your doctor. Your doctor will do tests to see what type of infection you have.
• One way to determine if you have a viral or bacterial infection is to see if antibiotic treatment is working. Antibiotics such as penicillin are only effective for bacterial infections, and are contraindicated for viral infections. That’s why you shouldn’t take antibiotics unless your doctor prescribes them.
• Most illnesses and infections caused by viruses, including the common cold, have no cure, but antiviral medications are available to control and reduce symptoms and severity.

Use the simple table below for a basic distinction between bacteria and viruses. ^[15]

• Although there are many other differences, the differences listed in the table are the most important.