Informative. Thanx.
You sound like someone with medical education/experience. Can you please address HOW an antibiotic affects a virus? I understand the hydroxycholoquine is an ionophore and also (somehow) counteracts the virus’ action re: reduction of iron transport via heme. But I do not comprehend how an antibiotic can affect a virus even after being capable of penetrating it.
I have asked this before, with no response. Professionals only, please. This question is driving me crazy.
It’s known to have anti-viral properties. There are studies of azithromycin’s effects with other viruses.
If you want to explore that, do a google search that includes these three terms:
azithromycin antiviral mechanism
Here’s another search for info about that.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Azithromycin+antiviral
Macrolide antibiotics such as Zithromax bind to a subunit on a cells ribosome and prevent the synthesis of messenger RNA and inhibit the production of the proteins necessary to form the membrane of a bacteria. Now in the case of a bacteria, which is capable of reproducing itself the antibiotic essentially penetrates the bacteria, kills it or at least prevents its reproduction.
Viruses are not capable of reproducing themselves unless they take over viable cells of their host. The virus, in the case of COVID-19 an RNA virus, takes over the cells machinery, inserting its nucleic acid into the genome of the cell and then actually directs the host cell to reproduce numerous complete new viruses, until the host cell dies and then those new viruses infect , take over other host cells, continue to replicate. The process continues until the host’s immune system defeats the virus or in the case of very virulent viruses such as COVID-19, the host dies. Just why Zithromax may disrupt the replications of the RNA COVID-19 virus may be that it alters ribosome function in some way inhibiting the virus infected cell from producing messenger RNA that is critical for the virus to replicate.
This is speculation. There have been some reports in the past that Zithromax may have some anti-viral activity. If it turns out to work, there is little doubt it will be studied extensively and scientists will get a better idea on just how it works.
“But I do not comprehend how an antibiotic can affect a virus even after being capable of penetrating it.”
I am not a doctor but I believe I read these medications interfere with the ability of the virus to replicate and in doing so allow the natural defenses in the body to take it out before it gets out of control.