antibiotics

• Antibiotics are substances that slow down/stop the growth of bacteria.
• Antibiotics damage the bacterial cells by inhibiting their cellular processes, but don’t damage the host cells.
• Viral diseases can’t be cured by antibiotics since they reproduce inside the host cells. The medicine might damage the host cells while killing the virus.

  Antiviral drugs only slow down viral development but viruses can change their antigens quickly.
• Drugs today are based on chemicals extracted from plants:

  1. Preclinical testing — tested on cells in lab to check effiency and toxicity.
  2. Whole organism testing — tested on animals to see what is the best dosage.
  3. Clinical trials — human volunteers with low doses.