Some antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections kill the bacteria by chemically punching holes in the cell wall of the bacteria,by preventing the bacteria from replicating their DNA,or by many other actions that ultimately cause cell death.Why do these antibiotics not work to kill viruses and cure people of viral infections?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Antibiotics target bacterial cells specifically by damaging the cell wall, inhibiting DNA replication, and other mechanisms that target key components of bacterial physiology. Viruses, on the other hand, are not living cells and do not have a cell wall to attack. They rely on host cells to replicate and reproduce, making them difficult to target with antibiotics. Therefore, antibiotics are not effective against viral infections, and alternative antiviral therapies are necessary.

Some Antibiotics Used to Treat Bacterial Infections Kill the Bacteria