A patient presents with fever, myalgias, and upper respiratory symptoms. Laboratory testing identifies an infectious agent that lacks metabolic machinery and is unable to replicate outside living cells. Which statement best describes this type of pathogen?

Viruses reproduce independently through binary fission

Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites that require host cells to replicate

Viruses are unicellular organisms containing ribosomes

Viruses generate ATP through oxidative phosphorylation

Viruses are classified as eukaryotic microorganisms