In the body, iodine has antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antiproliferative, and antitumor properties, but they are targeted. In-other-words, unlike a broad spectrum pharma antibiotic, which will devastate both good and bad bacteria, iodine affects only the bad bacteria because, unlike pharma antibiotics which work directly on bacteria, iodine is used by the body to battle the bacteria the body deems appropriate to "attack". And this is why the pharmaceutical industry hates iodine so much, and makes sure that medical doctors are not taught anything about it. And this is why iodine tests are not part of thyroid function test panels, even though the thyroid is the biggest consumer of iodine of all the organs in the body. Less iodine = more money for Big Pharma.

More iodine info at health101.org/iodine