Question

Explain why antibiotics do not work against viruses?

Answer 1

Hint:- Antibiotics are compounds that help stop the infection caused by the bacteria. They either kill the bacteria or help in reducing the virulence of the bacteria. Hence, they either contain heat-killed bacteria or bacteria without their virulence.

Complete step-by-step solution:-
Bacterias are prokaryotes which are single-celled organisms that contain DNA as the genetic material and are present in the cytoplasm. Bacterias are made up of a cell envelope, cell wall, plasma membrane and the cytoplasm which contains the DNA. Bacteria enters the body through the mouth, eyes, nose and via wounds. They multiply within the body and spread the infection.
Viruses are organisms which have the ability to infect bacterias. They also cause diseases in humans. Their structure mainly contains nucleic acid, a protein coat and a capsid which functions as a shell.
Antibiotics prevent the infection of disease by bacteria either by killing it or by reducing its growth. They act on the cell wall of the bacteria which interferes with the reproduction rate. The bacteria attacks the human body from outside the body. Unlike bacteria, the virus does not contain a cell wall and is instead surrounded by a protein coat or capsid. The bacteria contains certain targets on the cell wall where the antibiotics attack the bacteria. These types of structures are absent in the case of virtues. Hence antibiotics can not be effective against viruses.

Note:- Some of the examples of antibiotics are Penicillins, Cephalosporins and Tetracyclines. The first ever discovered antibiotic was Penicillin which was discovered by Alexander Fleming in the year 1928. It was extracted from Penicillium mold.