eIF3i inhibits nelson bay orthoreovirus replication via interaction with the σNS protein

L929 cells exhibit relatively strong resistance to infection by Nelson Bay orthoreovirus (NBV), primarily due to the unique virus-host interaction that suppresses NBV infection at multiple stages, including viral entry, genome replication, and virion assembly. This study investigates the role of host factor eIF3i in NBV replication. Co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence co-localization assays were performed to verify whether eIF3i interacts with the σNS protein in vitro. The results demonstrated that eIF3i significantly inhibits NBV replication through specific binding to σNS. This finding not only provides mechanistic insights into host protein-mediated regulation of viral replication, but also offers a theoretical basis for developing novel anti-NBV therapeutic strategies.