Could a Canadian sea sponge help prevent COVID-19 infections?

[applegrove]

Could a Canadian sea sponge help prevent COVID-19 infections?
University of British Columbia researchers have identified three compounds that were effective against several variants, all derived from natural sources.

By Alessia Passafiume, Staff Reporter, The Toronto Star

Tue., Jan. 10, 2023timer3 min. read

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2023/01/10/heres-how-a-compound-found-in-a-sea-sponge-in-bc-could-prevent-covid-19-infections.html

"SNIP........

A new study found that three naturally derived Canadian compounds — including one derived from a B.C. sea sponge — effectively prevented COVID-19 infection in human cells and can pave the way for developing new medicines to treat the virus’s ever-growing list of variants.

In the study led by University of British Columbia scientists, international researchers investigated more than 350 compounds derived from natural sources in countries such as Canada, the United States and Brazil, including plants, fungi and marine sponges, to find new antiviral drugs to treat COVID variants.

Natural products are typically a source of antimicrobial agents and have been successful in anti-cancer drugs, said the study’s senior author, François Jean, an associate professor in UBC’s department of microbiology and immunology. Given the success in other areas of medicine, the researchers wanted to determine if natural products could create antiviral drugs to prevent COVID infections.

But what is most promising, according to Jean, is the potential for these compounds to be effective against emerging COVID variants and even influenza and RSV — respiratory infections that have wreaked havoc on Canadian hospitals during a “tripledemic” of viruses this season.

........SNIP"

[Uncle Joe]

1. Another argument for preserving biodiversity

Thanks for the thread applegrove

[applegrove]

2. Absolutely.

[4dog]

4. Hmm, Canadian compounds.

More information to memorize in chemistry class?

[mchill]

3. My microbiology undergrad lab instructor

Said grad students in MB always collect samples from
nature when on exotic travel for other reasons in hopes of finding the next antibiotic. Streptomycin comes from dirt, eg.

[applegrove]

6. I remember when at the end of the first year of covid they said labs around the

world were going to be testing their libraries of compounds against Covid to see if something works against it. If Canada has 3 possibilities, I'm sure the rest of the world has some too. Something has to work.

[Sneederbunk]

5. In the mind of a Canadian sea sponge, yes!