A satellite is a subviral agent that depends on the coinfection of a host cell with a helper virus for its replication.

[6] However, the usage of this term remains controversial due to the lack of fundamental differences between virophages and classical satellite viruses.

A few years later in 1969, scientists discovered another symbiotic relationship with the tobacco ringspot nepovirus (TobRV) and another satellite virus.

[8] The emergence of satellite RNA is said to have come from either the genome of the host or its co-infecting agents, and any vectors leading to transmission.

HBV provides a surface antigen, HBsAg, which is utilized by HDV to create a super-infection resulting in liver failure.