Virusoid

Virusoids are circular single-stranded RNAs dependent on plant viruses for replication and
encapsidation.[1] The genome of virusoids consist of several hundred nucleotides and only
encodes structural proteins.
Virusoids are similar to viroids in size, structure and means of replication (rolling-circle
replication)
Virusoids, while being studied in virology, are not considered as viruses but as subviral
particles. Since they depend on helper viruses, they are classified as satellites. In the
virological taxonomy they appear as Satellites/Satellite nucleic acids/Subgroup 3: Circular
satellite RNAs.
The term virusoid is also sometimes used more generally to refer to all satellites