Bacteria are unicellular living organisms and are simple in their organizations. They are capable of multiplying by themselves. They are therefore designated as “Prokaryotic” cells in contrast to “Eukaryotic” cells which are more complex. Bacteria exist everywhere, inside and on our bodies. Most bacteria are quite beneficial for us and cause no harm. But, some bacteria cause diseases.
Viruses are a unique group of living agents, extremely small in size, usually beyond the resolution of a light microscope, possess the highest state of parasitism containing a single molecule of either DNA or RNA which has a protein shell and multiply by replication within the living cell. Outside of a living cell, a virus cannot exist. Viruses are not beneficial.
The difference in bacteria and virus is provided below.
The difference in bacteria and virus is provided below.
Difference Between Viruses and Bacteria
Bacteria
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Viruses
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Cell
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Single Cell
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No
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Size
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Size comparatively larger-in microscope, usually above 300 nm (e. g. - Staphylococcus- 1000nm)
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Size very small in the microscope, usually below 300nm, smallpox virus is largest (300nm)
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Microscopy
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Visible under light microscope
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Not visible under light microscope except pox virus
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Outer surface
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The rigid wall containing peptidoglycan layer
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Protein capsid and lipoprotein envelop.
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Nucleic acid
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Contain both DNA and RNA
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Contain either DNA or RNA, never both
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Site
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Extracellular or intracellular, may grow outside or inside the host cell, active in the extracellular environment
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Usually intracellular, must grow inside a living host cell, inert in the extracellular environment, i.e. strict parasites.
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Multiplication
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Multiply by binary fission
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Multiply by replication
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Culture
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Can grow in inanimate (artificial and cell-free) culture media except for Rickettsiae and Chlamydiae
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Cannot grow in inanimate (artificial and cell-free) culture media
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Energy-yielding enzymes
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Present
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Absent
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Metabolic activity
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Present
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Absent
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Antibiotic sensitivity
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Sensitive or resistant to antibiotics
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Mostly resistant to antibiotics
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Interferon sensitivity
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Resistant to interferon except for Chlamydiae
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Sensitive to interferon
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Infection
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Localized
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Systemic
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Treatment option
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Antibiotics
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Vaccines (but not available for all virus)
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