We will inevitably encounter various diseases in our lives. There are two pathogens that cause this disease, one is bacteria and the other is a virus. Although both organisms are pathogenic, they differ greatly in nature and treatment. Let's take a look at why antimicrobials can be used to treat bacterial infections, but there is no specific drug for viral diseases, and the scientific basis for this.
First of all, we have to figure out what is a bacterium and what is a virus. A bacterium is a single-celled organism composed of a cell membrane, a cell wall, and organelles. This intact structure allows antibiotics to destroy their cell walls or block their activity to kill them. In contrast, these viruses are much more "rudimentary", they have no tissues of their own, cannot survive on their own, and can only rely on parasites to reproduce and manufacture themselves.
These essential differences pose great clinical difficulties. Since viruses proliferate themselves through interactions with hosts, drugs that target to block their activity often cause damage to them, thus restricting the development of new drugs. At present, some commonly used anti-influenza drugs, such as ribavirin, cannot directly kill the virus, but delay its proliferation by blocking the replication of the virus's genetic material.
In this case, the body's immune function becomes very important. A strong immune system is able to detect and destroy viruses efficiently without relying on foreign objects. This can also explain why in the face of viruses such as colds and epidemics, we rely more on our own immunity than through medicine.
The invention of antimicrobial drugs is of great significance in the history of medicine, however, long-term use and abuse have made the problem of bacterial resistance increasingly serious. The continuous emergence of drug-resistant bacteria makes the prevention and control of some pathogenic bacteria more difficult, and also affects the prevention and control of many diseases by humans.
In the future, we should start from two aspects: first, increase the research and development of existing new anti-influenza drugs to enhance their effectiveness and safety; Therefore, it is particularly important to scientifically apply antimicrobial drugs to prevent the emergence of drug resistance. In addition, it is necessary to increase public health education so that the public understands the fundamental difference between viruses and germs, and understands that not all infectious diseases need to be treated with drugs, and sometimes it is necessary to let the body's immune system work normally.
With the advancement of science and technology, human beings have a deeper understanding of the virus. The gene modification represented by CRISPR-Cas9 provides a new way to solve this problem, that is, to block the proliferation of the virus by directional modification of its genetic material. At the same time, mRNA vaccines have shown great advantages in COVID-19, not only to prevent and prevent the new coronavirus quickly and efficiently, but also to lay the foundation for the development of vaccines for other viruses.
However, in the process of scientific and technological development, there must be better global health policies and better international collaboration. Influenza knows no country, and drug resistance is a worldwide problem. Strengthening vaccination and rational use of antibiotics and antiviral drugs are important ways to address current and future infectious diseases.
Improving immunity is also critical for individuals. It is necessary to develop good lifestyle habits, such as proper exercise, balanced diet, adequate sleep, and reduced tension, which can enhance the body's resistance to disease. In addition, in daily life, pay attention to washing hands frequently and maintain good cough habits can reduce the chance of influenza infection.
All in all, we should not be helpless in the absence of a silver bullet for this disease. Through continuous scientific advances, rational drug use, individual immunity, and international collaboration, we can meet this challenge. Just as humanity has successfully conquered many diseases in the past, the battle against this virus will be a long and uphill one.
Through the above research, we can not only deepen the lack of specificity of influenza viruses, but also provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of viruses from the aspects of scientific and technological development and international cooperation. In the face of the tests ahead, we must have sufficient technology and the consciousness of the people, because we are all participants in this long-term struggle.