Viruses And Bacteria: What’s The Difference?
Viruses and bacteria are microorganisms responsible for potential infections and damage to our body. Although it is sometimes difficult to understand what the actual cause of some infections is, due to the similarity between the two groups, in reality these microorganisms are very different from each other.
Right now that we are experiencing a global pandemic due to a virus (Coranavirus) it is important to know in more detail what are the characteristics that distinguish viruses from bacteria. Let’s see more details below.
Generic differences between viruses and bacteria
One of the main differences between viruses and bacteria is that the former are more harmful to our health and always cause disease. It is not the same with bacteria. There are many bacteria that populate our body. This is the case of bacteria that keep the pH of the digestive system in balance (commonly known as intestinal flora).
However, it is not all black or white and it is not always the case: failure to control the bacterial population of our body and some pathogenic bacteria can lead to disease. In addition to this, thanks to advances in science some viruses called bacteriophages are currently used in the treatment of certain diseases.
What are the structural differences?
While bacteria are considered autonomous microorganisms, due to their complexity and their ability to reproduce and survive on their own, the same is not true for viruses. It is not entirely clear whether a virus outside of a more complex cell can survive.
Viruses lack the “organs” necessary for metabolism. They also need a cell to act as a host in order to reproduce. For this reason, they are not functional in themselves and always need a more complex organism to survive.
These two microorganisms also differ in size. Bacteria are nearly 100 times larger than viruses. This makes them visible under the microscope. To be able to observe a virus, it will be necessary to use the electron microscope.
Their different sizes are also reflected in the complexity of these microorganisms. A bacterium originates from the bacterial wall and from a cytoplasm with all the organelles inside it. The virus is composed only of genetic material and a protein coat.
How do viruses and bacteria affect us?
Apart from the bacteria that are already part of our body, both microorganisms can access our organism. They do this by means of the mouth, nose, skin wounds, insect bites.
Once in the body, the immune system may react effectively, without consequences, or infection or disease may develop. The virus triggers effects on our organism, damaging or killing the cells in which it enters in order to reproduce.
Bacteria, for their part, consume our cells’ resources or produce toxic substances. These substances are known as toxins. While infections caused by viruses tend to be systemic, bacterial infections almost always have a localized origin.
The pathology and the resulting symptoms depend on the type of virus or bacteria, on the immune defenses and on the general characteristics of the infected organism.
What is the treatment for these two microorganisms?
Under normal conditions, our immune system is responsible for fighting viral and bacterial infections. The better he reacts, the faster and more effectively the invasion will be handled. In addition to this, certain aids come from outside.
Against bacteria there are antibiotics, drugs that act on the cell wall of the microorganism and against its reproduction mechanism. Each bacterium is sensitive to certain antibiotics. Since viruses do not have a wall or mechanisms of their own reproduction, antibiotics are not effective against them.
In addition to antibiotics, there are vaccines. Vaccines can act against viruses and bacteria. They are composed of dead microorganisms or fragments of inactive microorganisms. These will activate our immune system, putting it on alert to act faster against an infection caused by a particular pathogen.
Since viruses mutate easily and quickly, and do so in order to adapt to the organism they want to colonize, it is difficult to develop a durable and effective vaccine against them. An example is its influence; a new flu face is created every year.
Finally, for viruses there are so-called antiviral drugs. They act similar to antibiotics, but exert their action on different parts of the virus.
Viruses and bacteria: let’s be clear
Although in the clinical setting both microorganisms are similar and can trigger similar symptoms, the differences are many. As always, in case of any suspicion or infectious symptom, it will be necessary to contact a specialist who can formulate a correct diagnosis and propose a treatment based on their evaluations.
