Why are antibiotics not effective against viruses?

Antibiotics specifically target bacterial cell structures and processes that are absent in viruses, making them ineffective against viral infections.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Antibiotics work by disrupting bacterial cell walls, protein synthesis, or DNA replication
Viruses have no cell wall, ribosomes, or independent metabolism - they use host cells instead
Viruses replicate inside host cells, making them inaccessible to antibiotics
Taking antibiotics for viral infections is ineffective and contributes to antibiotic resistance

Key Mistake to Avoid: Don't confuse bacterial resistance to antibiotics with the body's immune response (antibodies) - these are completely different mechanisms.

Quick Tip: Remember "WALL" - Without A Living cell, viruses can't survive independently. This explains why antibiotics (which target cellular processes) won't work.