Viroids

Viroids are small infectious agents that consist of circular single-stranded molecules of RNA. They lack any protein capsid or envelope, unlike other viruses, and are the smallest known infectious agents. They have very simple genetic structures and are only a few hundred nucleotides in length, making them difficult to detect. Viroids can infect plants, causing significant economic losses to crops. They can also infect animals and humans, leading to chronic diseases. Recent research has shown that viroids may play an important role in the development of cancer and other diseases. Researchers continue to study the ways viroids spread and the impacts they may have on human health.