A
satellite is a
subviral agent composed of
nucleic acid that depends on the
co-infection of a host cell with a
helper or master
virus for its replication. When a satellite encodes the coat
protein in which its nucleic acid is
encapsidated it is referred to as a
satellite virus. A satellite virus of
mamavirus that inhibits the replication of its host has been termed a
virophage. However, the usage of this term remains controversial due to the lack of fundamental differences between virophages and classical satellite viruses.