Question

Common cold is not cured by antibiotics because it is

• A. caused by a virus
• B. caused by a Gram-positive bacterium
• C. caused by a Gram-negative bacterium
• D. not an infectious disease.

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

caused by a virus

Answer 2

Common cold is caused by some 100 types of Rhino viruses. It is one of the most common infectious disease in human. Antibiotics are substances that destroy or inhibit the growth of microorganisms, particularly disease-producing bacteria and fungi. Antibiotics are obtained from microorganisms (especially moulds) or synthesized. Many antibiotics interfere with the pathogen protein synthesis. Some (e.g. Penicillin) prevent cross- linking of the glycan chains of peptidoglycan molecules in bacterial cell walls. Since the viruses do not possess cell wall and their own protein synthesising apparatus, they are not attacked by antibiotics.