Intracellular parasite

Intracellular parasites are microparasites that are capable of growing and reproducing inside the cells of a host.

[2] Facultative intracellular parasites are capable of living and reproducing in or outside of host cells.

Obligate intracellular parasites, on the other hand, need a host cell to live and reproduce.

[citation needed] The majority of intracellular parasites must keep host cells alive as long as possible while they are reproducing and growing.

Self-degradation of host proteins into amino acids provides the parasite with its primary carbon and energy source.