. "Any process in which a virus stops, prevents, or reduces the activity of MDA-5 (also known as IFIH1) by interacting selectively and non-covalently with MDA-5 itself. For example, direct binding of viral proteins to the host MDA-5 protein can inhibit interaction of MDA-5 with MAVS, its downstream signaling effector." . . "suppression by virus of host MDA-5 activity via MDA-5 binding" . "suppression by virus of host MDA5 activity by MDA-5 binding" . .