sea sponge could block COVID-19 virus, researchers find3 most effective natural compounds in catalogue of 350 were sourced in Canada, UBC team saysResearchers at the University of British Columbia say a compound derived from sea sponges found off the B.C.The three most effective compounds were sourced in Canada: one from sea sponges collected in Howe Sound, northwest of Vancouver, another from marine bacteria collected in Barkley Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island, and a third from marine bacteria in Newfoundland."These compounds blocked infection, so we cannot see more virus in the cells after a few days," said Jimena Pérez-Vargas, a research associate in UBC's department of microbiology and immunology.'More work to do': researcherPérez-Vargas says they are pleased with their findings "but we have more work to do."Dr. Srinivas Murthy, an infectious diseases expert in UBC's faculty of medicine who was not affiliated with the study, says it's always exciting to find new molecules that could work against viruses."