Bacteria and viruses are both microscopic organisms that can cause disease in humans. While these microbes may have some characteristics in common, they are also very different. Bacteria are typically much larger than viruses and can be viewed under a light microscope. 

Disease:

While both can cause disease, viruses are not living organisms, whereas bacteria are. Viruses are only "active" within host cells which they need to reproduce, while bacteria are single-celled organisms that produce their own energy and can reproduce on their own. Bacteria serve many vital roles in nature outside of being infectious.

Size:

Viruses are about 1,000 times smaller than bacteria and are visible under an electron microscope. 

Reproduction:

Bacteria are single-celled organisms that reproduce asexually independently of other organisms. Viruses require the aid of a living cell in order to reproduce.

Infection:

Bacterial and viral infections are often related

While bacterial and viral infections are different, they are often related.

Severe cases of viral pneumonia often end up with an associated bacterial infection. This is particularly true with COVID-19, where up to 50% of the severely ill hospitalised patients have developed a bacterial infection. So, despite COVID-19 being caused by a virus, antibiotics are really important to treat the associated bacterial infections.

Antibiotics resistance:

As antibiotic-resistant bacteria are an increasing global problem, researchers at IMB are investigating the surface activity of bacteria at molecular level and have discovered how they elude the human immune system .

Treat to resistance bacteria:

 They are also looking at developing new therapies to treat resistant bacteria, and working to help researchers around the world discover new antibiotics. 

We’re now well on the way to developing preventative therapies, biomarkers and vaccines to foil these elusive microbial assassins from plaguing our world.