A is a non-cellular infectious agent that can only replicate within a host organism. They can infect any organism made of at least one , including bacteria, plants, fungi, algae and animals. All are very small, and have a very simple structure. When independent of its host, a particle usually only consists of genetic material, contained within a shell called a capsid.

A virus is a non-cellular infectious agent that can only replicate within a host organism. They can infect any organism made of at least one cell, including bacteria, plants, fungi, algae, and animals. All viruses are very small and have a very simple structure. When independent of its host, a virus particle usually only consists of genetic material, contained within a protein shell called a capsid.

The term you are looking for is "virus."

A virus is a non-cellular infectious agent that can only replicate within a host organism. It can infect any organism made of at least one cell, including bacteria, plants, fungi, algae, and animals.

All viruses are very small and have a very simple structure. When independent of its host, a virus particle usually only consists of genetic material, which can be DNA or RNA, contained within a protective protein shell called a capsid.