please explain it.
2006-11-23 07:08:44 · 11 answers · asked by cool 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Antibiotics kill targeted bacteria cells by either interfering with the cell membrane formation, killing organelles, or stopping cell division.
Viruses are different from bacteria cells - instead of a cell membrane, they have a hard protein coat. In fact all they are is a hard protein coat with DNA jammed inside. They are also very very small. Many scientists would tell you that they aren't even living things.
Antibiotics do not work against viruses because viruses do not have soft cell membranes or organelles to kill. They don't multiply by themselves either (They inject their DNA into real cells and get their hosts to do the work)
2006-11-23 07:18:33 · answer #1 · answered by Kerahna 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Lots of people who know nothing are answering this question! Kerahna and swbarnes2 gave you very good answers: that antibiotics prevent bacteria from producing cell membranes, and without producing new cell membranes, they can't reproduce. They have metabolic needs that must be met in order for them to survive and reproduce, and some abx interfere with them meeting those needs. Viruses don't have cell membranes and don't reproduce on their own (remember they hijack a cell and force it to make copies of themselves), and they don't have any metabolic needs. Basically, bacteria are alive, and viruses are not. Viruses are just little strands of DNA or RNA protected by a kind of shell. They don't reproduce on their own, and they don't have metabolic needs, so antibiotics can't affect them by messing up their metabolism or ability to reproduce. Good Luck!! And remember: some people know even less than you do, so accept other people's answers with caution!!!
2006-11-23 09:38:43 · answer #2 · answered by Annie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Antibiotics do not help you build anti-bodies to viruses or bacteria. They do not help your immunity, they simply kill off ALL bacteria, the good and the bad, in your body. Antibiotics have no effect on viruses becuase viruses can't die, like bacteria can. Viruses are not alive. It's not a living bug of any kind, so antibiotics can't kill it.
Hope that helps.
2006-11-23 07:23:36 · answer #3 · answered by litestim 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
a virus reproduces its cells too fast and viruses are able to mutate too fast so the antibiotics cant kill them all cuz once the antibiotic kicks in the virus has already mutated. Its just too hard for the antibiotic to keep up with the virus.
2006-11-23 08:51:23 · answer #4 · answered by <3 ROKERITA LOCA <3 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
An antibiotic is a drug that kills or prevents the growth of bacteria. They have no effect against viruses, fungi, or parasites. Antibiotics are one class of antimicrobials, a larger group which also includes anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-parasitic drugs
2006-11-23 07:14:59 · answer #5 · answered by Gifted S 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
because antibiotics only have an affect on bacterial infections. viruses live in your blood they either don't leave or your immune system has to get rid of it, like HPV for instance. the only thing that can work for a virus is its own treatment and vaccines.
2006-11-23 07:41:06 · answer #6 · answered by Tainted Soul 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
they are specific to bacteria, ther is another class of drugs that are know as anti-virals ( Valtrex, Flagyl etc) that are specific to viruses. Bacteria are organisms, while viruses are usually RNA strands
2006-11-23 07:13:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
antibiotics kill bacteria and viruses are not composed of bacteria
2006-11-23 07:51:27 · answer #8 · answered by molly c 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
antibiotics act against ribosomes; viruses have no ribosomes.
2006-11-23 09:43:03 · answer #9 · answered by B 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is a great question, and one that confused me for quite a while.
2016-08-23 11:16:23 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋