Satellite nucleic acids usually serve as "accomplices" that help the virus in attacking its host, compounding symptoms caused by the virus. But satellite nucleic acids isolated from BaMV can, surprisingly, hinder the virus's replication, in turn alleviating symptoms. In this way they become a weapon that helps the host plant defend against the virus. How does this happen?
衛星核酸通常扮演著與病毒合力攻擊寄主的幫凶角色，可以加重病毒所引起的病徵，但是從竹嵌紋病毒分離而來的衛星核酸居然可以降低病毒的複製，減輕病徵，成為幫助寄主植物防禦病毒的武器，「這究竟是怎麼辦到的？」