Cellular vs. Acellular

Question 1

What microbes are acellular?

Answer 1

Viruses. Viruses do not have cellular components, nor do they grow or metabolize organic materials. They generally consist of a piece of nucleic acid encased in protein which must use the cellular components of a living cell to reproduce. Prions (proteinaceous infectious
particles) are infectious agents composed primarily of protein which induce
the existing polypeptides in host cells to take on its form.

Question 2

What are prions?

Answer 2

proteinaceous infectious
particles) are infectious agents composed primarily of protein which induce
the existing polypeptides in host cells to take on its form.