Why don't antibodies work on viral infections?

Antibiotics work on the protein in a cell's membrane, usually denaturing the proteins and causing the cell to rupture.

Virus do not have a cell membrane. They are not actually living, but instead take over the operations within a host cell. In order for an antibiotic to work on a virus, it would have to rupture the cell membrane of the host cell. In that case, the antibiotic would be toxic, and probably more deadly than the viral infection.

Antibiotics? Because they only kill bacteria and only treat bacterial infections.

Did you mean antibodies or antibiotics?

i think you mean antibiotics. If so, then it is because antibiotics inhibit the growth of cell walls on cells which means they cant multiply through mitosis. Viruses are not cells, they are neither living nor dead, they are parasites. But bacteria are cells.

Tags

　　Insect Bites 　　Inhalants 　　Influenza 　　Inflammatory Bowel Disease 　　Infertility 　　Infectious Diseases 　　Infections Viral 　　Infections Fungal 　　Infections Bladder 　　Infections Bacterial 　　Infection Control 　　Indigestion 　　Incontinence

Related information

Viral Infection with what symptoms?

There are all sorts of viruses, not just cold-n-flu...ie:coldsores or herpes. However, you do not need to be sick to have a virus. Your body is probobly actively fighting something. Your immune ...

Should An Antibiotic Be Taken For A Viral Infection?

No, antibiotics do not work on Viral infections. Maybe the Dr. is concerned about a secondary infection of some sort. Call his office and ask them.

...

Are warts a viral infection?

they're a mixture of both they can also reappear due to stress

...

Viral infection, worried might be something worse?

Go see an ear, nose and throat specialist. If it was a virus it should have been gone within a few days of you noticing pain. If you aren't running a fever than it is not bacteria caused eit...

Viral Infection curable? once it runs its course, its gone forever?

That is not true. But, there are literally thousands of viruses. There is no way of knowing if you have caught the same "bug" more than once. Most viruses that cause the common cold al...

Why is EVERYBODY lying (or is it just ignorance) about there being no cure for viral infections?

Hear, hear!! Right on, tell em sister!! Joking aside, you are spot on except that it is our immune system that kills viruses and cancer (which could be viruses too) - Food does most definitely kill...

Toddler son had chickenpox 6 weeks ago since then one thing after another colds coughs viral infections why?

This is not an unusual pattern. After a decent viral infection the immune system may be under par and remain so for some months. If you check white blood counts there is often a neutropaenia ( low ...

The low molecular weight glycoprotein produced by animal cells in response to viral infections is?

interferon

...