Preventing oral virus transmission with chewing gum
A novel clinical-grade chewing gum could help reduce viral loads of influenza and herpes simplex virus strains.
In a laboratory-based study published in Molecular Therapy, researchers examined the efficacy of a novel clinical-grade chewing gum formulated with FRIL — a natural viral tap protein — in neutralizing several flu and herpes simplex virus strains.
The chewing gum left no aerobic bacteria, yeasts or molds after the bioburden test. The gum also was capable of trapping both HSV-1 and HSV-2 strains. Through a mastication simulation for 15 minutes, the chewing gum released greater than 50% of the FRIL protein. The researchers determined that a 2,000-milligram chewing gum tablet could be safe and effective at neutralizing the H1N1 and H3N2 flu strains and HSV-1 and HSV-2 strains.
Despite the positive findings, human clinical trials will be needed to better understand the novel chewing gum’s ability to prevent viral transmission.
Read more: Molecular Therapy
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