Viruses can exist in two phases extracellular and intracellular Virion, the extracellular phase, posses few if any enzymes and can not reproduce independently of living cells. In the intracellular phase, viruses exist primarily as replicating nucleic acids that induce host metabolism to synthesize virion components; eventually complete virus particles or virions are releasedVirion, the extracellular phase, posses few if any enzymes and can not reproduce independently of living cells. In the intracellular phase, viruses exist primarily as replicating nucleic acids that induce host metabolism to synthesize virion components; eventually complete virus particles or virions are released. extracellular and intracellular Viruses can exist in two phases