Question

Can a virus kill another virus?

Answer 1

Virus:

1. Viruses are microscopic infectious agents.
2. Viruses have DNA or RNA as genetic material.
3. Viruses require host cells for their replication.
4. The viruses are known for causing several diseases.
5. Examples of the diseases caused by viruses are- COVID-19, Ebola virus disease, Swine flu, etc.

Virophage:

1. Virophages are a group of double-stranded DNA-based viruses that infect other viruses.
2. Current research found that viruses kill other viruses.
3. Example- A group of researchers discovered a giant virus known as Mimivirus (size 400nm) infected by a small virus known as Sputnik (size 50nm).
4. Other virophages are Sputnik 2, Zamilon, Sputnik 3, and Mavirus.