Do you want to learn the difference between a Virus and Bacteria? No need to worry, we are here to make all your doubts clear related to these terms.

Bacteria’s are single-celled and do not need any living body for survival. It can survive on both living and non-living body. Viruses do not have a cell and are acellular. Viruses require a living host to survive, it cannot survive on the non-living thing.

To know the terms in detail let’s discuss them in detail.

Bacteria

Bacteria are single-celled prokaryotic microorganisms that are found in many shapes. Bacteria are larger in size approximately 1000nm. The cell walls of bacteria are made up of peptidoglycan. Ribosomes are present. Bacteria are able to reproduce itself. Bacteria are visible under Light Microscope. Some bacteria’s are beneficial while others are dangerous.

Bacteria are which are dangerous or disease-causing is known as pathogens. Diseases which are caused by bacteria are Food poisoning gastritis and ulcers, meningitis, pneumonia, etc.

Virus

Viruses are the acellular parasitic agent and do not have cell wall instead of that protein coat is present. They are smaller than bacteria approximately 20-400nm in size. Ribosomes are absent. Viruses are found inside the body of the host because virus needs a living host to survive. They destroy the RNA and DNA of the host and allow it to replicate the viral copies. Viruses are visible only under an electron microscope.

Viruses are a small infectious agent which infects the host and they dwell inside their host. The common examples of diseases caused by viruses are AIDS, common cold, influenza, chickenpox, etc

Let’s understand the differences between the bacteria and the virus for deep knowledge.

Cell type

Bacteria are prokaryotic cells while viruses are acellular.

Size

Bacteria are larger than viruses. Size of bacteria is approximately 1000nm while the size of the virus’s ranges from 20nm to 400nm.

Cell wall

Bacteria have a cell wall made up of peptidoglycan while there is no cell wall in the viruses instead a protein layer is present.

Reproduce

Bacteria have the ability to reproduce itself while viruses need a host to survive and reproduce.

Visibility

Bacteria are visible under Light Microscope while viruses are only visible under the electron microscope.

Treatment

Treatment of bacteria causing disease is antibiotics while a virus does not respond to antibiotics. Vaccines prevent the spread and slow down the reproduction of the virus in the host.