The difference between viruses and bacteria lies in the fact that the virus is harmful to our health causing diseases , on the other hand, bacteria are microorganisms with which we live daily , generating more benefits than diseases.
Both viruses and bacteria are microorganisms . The bacterium is considered a living organism due to its complexity and its ability to reproduce independently . It is questioned whether the virus is considered a living organism before finding a host cell , where it lodges in order to reproduce, since without it it cannot ‘live’.
Both cause diseases, but they differ because bacteria not only cause diseases, but are necessary for the balance of our body: they are called good bacteria, the intestinal flora that regulates our pH is an example of this.
Nowadays, thanks to science and technology, it has been possible to use some viruses in a beneficial way, such as bacteriophages . Scientists take advantage of the characteristics of viruses to lodge in cells for their subsequent destruction to fight, for example, brain tumors.
Some of the basic characteristics between viruses and bacteria are:
| Virus | Bacteria | |
|---|---|---|
| Characteristics general |
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| Characteristics specific |
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| Cause of illness | Infection of the virus that lodges in host cells changing its DNA for its own, eventually destroying the cells. | Increase in the amount of bacteria and products of your metabolism that cause disease. |
| Infection | Systemic | Located |
| Examples of diseases |
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| Prevention and cure | Preventive and antiviral vaccines. | Bacterial balance of the organism and antibiotics. |
See also:
- Difference between HIV and AIDS
- Difference between antisepsis and asepsis
- Difference between isolation and quarantine.
