A nasal spray derived from algae and a plant in the tobacco family could offer a preventive measure for COVID-19, according to a new study. Researchers are making a molecule called Q-griffithsin using an anti-viral protein found in the New Zealand red algae Griffithsia and Nicotiana benthamiana, a plant in the same family as tobacco plants. The former has shown it can bind to other coronaviruses’ surfaces, making it unable to infect healthy cells. “The nice thing about Q-griffithsin is that it has a number of activities against other viruses and pathogens,” says Lisa Rohan, a professor in the pharmaceutical sciences department at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, and one of the lead researchers on the collaboration. “It’s been shown to be effective against Ebola, herpes, and hepatitis, as well as a broad spectrum of coronaviruses, including SARS and MERS.” The team envisions a nasal spray for people at higher risk of …