How Are Bacteria Different from Viruses? – Differences Between Virus And Bacteria

Conclusion – Difference Between Virus And Bacteria

Some major differences between virus and bacteria are given below:

Features	Virus	Bacteria
Cellular Structure	Non-cellular	Cellular
Composition	Genetic material (DNA or RNA)	Genetic material (DNA)
Cell Wall	Absent	Present in many
Cellular Organization	Lack cellular organelles	Have cellular organelles
Metabolism	Depend on host cell for replication	Independent metabolism
Living or Non-living	Considered non-living	Considered living
Size	Smaller	Larger
Reproduction	Replicate only inside host cells	Can reproduce independently
Mode of Reproduction	Replication using host machinery	Binary fission
Diseases	Cause various diseases in hosts	Some species cause diseases
Symptoms	Can cause a variety of symptoms, such as fever, pus formation, localized pain.	Often associated with systemic symptoms like fever, fatigue, and specific organ-related symptoms.
Spread	Can spread through air, water, direct contact, or contaminated surfaces.	Typically spread through respiratory droplets, blood, or bodily fluids.
Duration of Illness	Symptoms may persist until treated with antibiotics.	May resolve on their own or require antiviral treatment, duration varies.
Treatment	Antiviral medications	Antibiotics
Examples	Influenza virus, HIV, SARS-CoV-2	Escherichia coli, Streptococcus

Difference Between Virus And Bacteria

The major difference between viruses and bacteria is that viruses are non-living entities composed of genetic material, while bacteria are living single-celled organisms with distinct cellular structures. Viruses and bacteria are microscopic organisms that can cause disease.

Understanding the difference between viruses and bacteria helps students to learn about these microorganisms in detail. In this article, we will talk about how are bacteria different from viruses and discuss some of the major differences between them.

Difference Between Virus And Bacteria

Table of Content

What is Bacteria?

Characteristics of Bacteria

What is Virus?

Characteristics of Virus