Differences Between Bacteria and Viruses

Although bacteria and viruses both are very small to be seen without a microscope, there are many differences between Bacteria and Viruses.

Some of the Differences Between Bacteria and Viruses are as follows:

S.N.CharacteristicsBacteriaViruses
1SizeLarger (1000 nm)Smaller (20-400 nm)
2Cell WallPeptidoglycan or LipopolysaccharideNo cell wall. Protein coat present instead.
3RibosomesPresentAbsent
4Number of cellsOne cell (Unicellular)No cells
5Living/Non-LivingLiving organismsBetween living and non-living things.
6DNA and RNADNA and RNA floating freely in cytoplasm.DNA or RNA enclosed inside a coat of protein.
7InfectionLocalizedSystemic
8ReproduceAble to reproduce by itselfNeed a living cell to reproduce
9ReproductionFission- a form of asexual reproductionInvades a host cell and takes over the cell causing it to make copies of the viral DNA/RNA. Destroys the host cell releasing new viruses.
10Duration of illnessA bacterial illness commonly will last longer than 10 days.Most viral illnesses last 2 to 10 days.
11FeverA bacterial illness notoriously causes a fever.A viral infection may or may not cause a fever.
12Cellular MachineryPossesses a cellular machineryLack cellular machinery
13Under MicroscopeVisible under Light Microscope.Visible only under Electron Microscope.
14BenefitsSome bacteria are beneficial (Normal Flora)Viruses are not beneficial. However, a particular virus may be able to destroy brain tumors. Viruses can be useful in genetic engineering.
15TreatmentAntibioticsVirus does not respond to antibiotics.
16ExamplesStaphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, etcHIV, Hepatitis A virus, Rhino Virus, etc
17Diseases/InfectionsFood poisoning, gastritis and ulcers, meningitis, pneumonia, etcAIDS, common cold, influenza, chickenpox, etc

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16 thoughts on “Differences Between Bacteria and Viruses”

    • Not necessarily, for example, viruses sizes are nanometers, which is a billionth of a meter and they still cause lots of damage to us

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  1. if bacteria and viruses are so different ,why do most diseases caused by different micro- organism’s have the same signs and symptoms

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    • its not really the same(maybe we look at long term affects) ,also signs and symptoms not the standard thing that we use to find the difference between them

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  2. If they do not require a cell to exist would it not be true they can exist on surfaces for an extended period of time in crystalline form?

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    • Different viruses have different viabilities (‘life’ spans, or times during which they can infect a host). The viability of a virus depends on the porosity of the surface. On clothing, cloth, textured products, and paper (more porous surfaces), a virus may live only hours or a couple of days. On smooth surfaces like marble, tile, stainless steel, a toilet seat, your kitchen tabl… the virus may last days or even up to 3 weeks. Cleaning those surfaces with soap and water will kill most viruses; adding bleach or hydrogen peroxide ensures the demise of virtually all viruses by breaking the protein shell and destroying the RNA or DNA chain.

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  3. More about symptoms–chills and clamminess for instance. (trying to tell what I have and how long before I should take antibiotics.

    Also breathing ?

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    • No 12 answers that. Viruses do not possess cellular machineries. They live in protein coats. Simply put, they do not require cells to exist.

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    • They depend on the host cell for their survival , and remember they are between living and non living . When they are outside the host cell can still survive as crystalline .

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    • virus is inert outside the host it’s just like chemical in the test tube. most of the time virus depend on host energy, and machinery.

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    • yes they dont have a cellular machinery but they uses the cellular machinery (for replication and translation) of the host like their ribosomes ,even DNA polymerase and so do they survive

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