- A Antibiotics act mainly by directly destroying viral capsids and degrading viral genetic material inside infected host cells as frequently observed in practice
- B Antibiotics target structures unique to bacteria (cell wall, ribosomes) that are absent in human cells, killing bacteria without harming the host
- C Antibiotics work mainly by generally strengthening the host's own innate and adaptive cellular immune defenses over time in many documented cases
- D Antibiotics are considered equally effective treatments against most bacterial, viral, and fungal infections alike according to conventional understanding
Correct answer: B. Antibiotics target structures unique to bacteria (cell wall, ribosomes) that are absent in human cells, killing bacteria without harming the host
Explanation: Antibiotics exploit differences between bacterial and human cells: beta-lactams (penicillin) target bacterial cell wall (peptidoglycan); tetracyclines target bacterial 70S ribosomes; fluoroquinolones target bacterial DNA gyrase. These targets are absent or different in human cells, providing selective toxicity.
Concept context
Pathogens, infectious diseases, non-infectious diseases, drugs, cancer, and public health. High NEET importance.