Question

pseudomonas is a type of bacteria that is found in soil and can cause ear infections in dogs. pseudomonas can be infected by a virus that multiplies slowly. a table of antibiotics that are used to treat ear infections in dogs and their effectiveness is shown.
antibiotic effectiveness against pseudomonas
antibiotic | effectiveness
ceftazidime | 91.3%
enrofloxacin | 52.1%
gentamicin | 65.2%
marbofloxacin | 91.3%
ticarcillin | 86%
tobramycin | 100%
tobramycin indirectly affects the virus that infects pseudomonas because it –
a. allows some of the viruses to develop an immunity to the antibiotic
b. also targets viral particles and prevents them from replicating
c. treats all of the bacterial cells, which prevents the virus from replicating
d. causes mutations in the bacteria, which prevents the virus from infecting healthy bacteria

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Antibiotics don’t make viruses immune to them (viruses and antibiotics interact differently), so A is incorrect.
• Option B: Antibiotics (like Tobramycin) target bacteria, not viruses directly. Viruses can’t be treated by antibiotics, so B is wrong.
• Option C: Viruses replicate inside host (bacterial) cells. If Tobramycin treats all bacterial cells (kills the bacteria), the virus loses its host and can’t replicate. This matches how antibiotics indirectly affect viruses (by eliminating their bacterial hosts).
• Option D: Antibiotics don’t cause mutations in bacteria to prevent viral infection; they target bacterial functions, so D is incorrect.

Answer:

C. treats all of the bacterial cells, which prevents the virus from replicating