A Satellite is a subviral agent composed of nucleic acid that depends on the coinfection of a host cell with a helper or, master virus for their multiplication. 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 mimivirus that inhibits the replication of its host has been termed a virophage.1
Satellite viral particles should not be confused with satellite DNA.
^ Bernard La Scola, Christelle Desnues, Isabelle Pagnier, Catherine Robert, Lina Barrassi, Ghislain Fournous, Michèle Merchat, Marie Suzan-Monti, Patrick Forterre, Eugene Koonin and Didier Raoult (2008). "The virophage as a unique parasite of the giant mimivirus". Nature454 (7205). doi:10.1038/nature07218.
