What do bacteria and viruses do once inside the body?

What do bacteria and viruses do once inside the body?

• A. Die immediately
• B. Reproduce rapidly
• C. Leave the body
• D. Change into parasites

Answer: (B)

Inside the body, bacteria and viruses mainly reproduce to establish an infection. Bacteria are living cells that multiply by dividing into two and using the body's nutrients to grow more bacteria. Viruses, though, can’t replicate on their own; they hijack the machinery of our cells to make many copies of the virus. This replication is what allows an infection to take hold and spread, triggering symptoms as the immune system fights back. They don’t simply die right away, they don’t just exit the body on their own, and they don’t transform into parasites.

Inside the body, bacteria and viruses mainly reproduce to establish an infection. Bacteria are living cells that multiply by dividing into two and using the body's nutrients to grow more bacteria. Viruses, though, can’t replicate on their own; they hijack the machinery of our cells to make many copies of the virus. This replication is what allows an infection to take hold and spread, triggering symptoms as the immune system fights back. They don’t simply die right away, they don’t just exit the body on their own, and they don’t transform into parasites.