subviral

/sʌbˈvaɪrəl/
adjective
  1. Relating to or being smaller or simpler than a typical virus, such as a virus fragment or a defective interfering particle.
    • The lab studied subviral particles that can interfere with normal virus replication.
    • Researchers are exploring subviral components to develop new antiviral therapies.
    • Some subviral agents, like viroids, consist only of a short strand of RNA.
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