Antibiotics are effective against bacterial infections but are generally useless against viruses due to the fundamental differences in the ways bacteria and viruses function and reproduce.
Target:
Antibiotics target specific structures or processes that are unique to bacteria, such as their cell walls, protein synthesis machinery, or metabolic pathways. Viruses, on the other hand, are much simpler organisms that lack the complex cellular structures targeted by antibiotics. They rely on host cells to replicate and do not have their own machinery that antibiotics can disrupt.
Replication:
Bacteria are independent living organisms that can reproduce on their own through binary fission. Antibiotics can interfere with their reproduction by disrupting key cellular processes. Viruses, however, are not considered living organisms; they are essentially genetic material (DNA or RNA) encased in a protein coat. Viruses cannot replicate without infecting a host cell and hijacking its cellular machinery to produce new virus particles.
Selective Targeting:
Antibiotics are developed to target specific bacterial structures or functions, minimizing harm to human cells. Viruses lack such distinct structures, making it challenging to develop drugs that selectively target viruses without harming the host cells.
Resistance:
Overuse or improper use of antibiotics can lead to bacterial resistance. Bacteria can evolve to become resistant to antibiotics by developing mutations that allow them to withstand the drug's effects. Viruses, on the other hand, do not experience antibiotic resistance in the same way since they don't have the same cellular mechanisms targeted by antibiotics.
Due to these fundamental differences, antiviral medications are used to treat viral infections. Antiviral drugs work by targeting specific steps in the viral life cycle, such as viral entry, replication, or release from host cells. Developing effective antiviral medications is often more challenging than developing antibiotics due to the complexity of viruses and their interactions with host cells.
I hope this helped!
~~~Harsha~~~