Microscopically tiny, extremely pathogenic particles (lat. virus = mucus, sap, poison) that are around 1,000 times smaller than bacteria (0.5 to 5 micrometres, 1 µm = one thousandth of a millimetre). Viruses are among the most dangerous enemies of all organisms, including many plants. Simple viruses usually consist of a protein envelope and enclosed DNA or RNA as nucleic acid (in contrast to the proteinless viroids). All viruses contain the programme (some viruses also contain other auxiliary components) for their reproduction and spread. They do not consist of a cell and therefore do not have their own replication or metabolism and are therefore dependent on the metabolism of a host cell such as a bacterium.
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