Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine have developed a chewing gum made from lablab beans that contains a natural antiviral trap protein (FRIL) capable of reducing viral loads of herpes simplex viruses and influenza strains by more than 95%. Building on their previous successful work with SARS-CoV-2, the team formulated a clinical-grade gum that effectively releases FRIL at sites of viral infection, particularly targeting the oral cavity where viruses like influenza and herpes are efficiently transmitted.
This innovation addresses the limitations of current approaches, including low vaccination rates for influenza and the absence of an HSV vaccine, by focusing on reducing viral loads at transmission sites. The researchers are now exploring applications for bird flu (H5N1), which has recently affected 54 million birds in North America and caused several human infections. This approach represents a promising strategy for controlling viral transmission, which continues to pose significant global health and economic challenges.