Viruses and Bacteria

Definition

Viruses are tiny infectious agents that can only replicate inside the cells of living hosts. Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms which can live independently in various environments including extreme temperatures and pressures, radioactive waste, deep earth crust etc.

Related terms

Pathogen: A bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease.

Host Cell: The living cell in which a virus replicates.

Microbiome: The collection of all the microorganisms living in association with the human body.