Which of the following best describes how antibiotics work in the context of microbiology?

• A. They neutralize viruses by disrupting their protein coats.
• B. They stimulate the immune system to produce more antibodies.
• C. They kill harmful bacteria or prevent bacteria from reproducing.
• D. They increase the growth rate of beneficial bacteria.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the primary target of antibiotics: Antibiotics are substances used to treat bacterial infections by targeting bacteria specifically, not viruses or the immune system directly.
2. Recognize that antibiotics work by either killing bacteria (bactericidal effect) or inhibiting their growth and reproduction (bacteriostatic effect).
3. Note that antibiotics do not neutralize viruses because viruses lack the cellular structures that antibiotics target, such as bacterial cell walls or protein synthesis machinery.
4. Understand that antibiotics do not stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies; this is the role of vaccines or the immune response itself.
5. Conclude that the best description of how antibiotics work is that they kill harmful bacteria or prevent bacteria from reproducing, thereby helping to eliminate bacterial infections.