What is "virusoid"

n. A circular single-stranded RNA, similar but not identical to a viroid, dependent on plant viruses for replication and encapsidation.

n. the smallest of viruses; a plant virus with its RNA arranged in a circular chromosome without a protein coat [syn: viroid]

Virusoids are circular single-stranded RNAs dependent on plant viruses for replication and encapsidation. The genome of virusoids consist of several hundred nucleotides and does not code for any proteins.

Virusoids are essentially viroids that have been encapsidated by a helper virus coat protein. Therefore, they are similar to viroids in terms of their 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.