Virophages are double-stranded DNA viruses that share properties with
satellite viruses and inhibit or impair the reproduction of the auxiliary virus. As other satellite viruses, virophages depend on the
coinfection of their
host by another virus, typically a
giant virus. In contrast to satellite viruses, virophages encode their own DNA replication proteins and are assumed to depend on the
transcription proteins provided by the coinfecting giant virus. The virophage jeopardizes the reproduction of the auxiliary virus, a phenomenon that is also known from some satellite viruses. Examples are the
Sputnik virophage, the
Mavirus virophage and the
Organic Lake virophage.