The battle against common viral infections might soon include an unexpected weapon: chewing gum. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have created a specialized gum that could trap and neutralize herpes and influenza viruses before they spread or cause infection.
This innovative approach targets viruses right where they often begin their journey, in the mouth. According to the research published in Molecular Therapy, the mouth is a much more efficient transmission route for viruses compared to the nose, making it a key battlefield for preventing infections from spreading.
How Bean Protein Becomes Virus-Fighting Gum
The research team has harnessed a natural protein called FRIL (Flt3 Receptor Interacting Lectin) found in lablab beans. When formulated into chewing gum, this protein works like flypaper for viruses, trapping them and preventing them from infecting cells or being transmitted to others.
This protein stays active for nearly two years in bean powder and even longer in chewing gum. Even after 794 days at room temperature, it was still working just as well. That kind of shelf life is a big deal for making the gum useful in the real world.
Most current antivirals require cold storage and complicated manufacturing. In contrast, this bean-based approach offers a simple solution that doesn’t need refrigeration, making it more accessible.
Lab testing revealed the bean gum extract caught between 75-94% of herpes simplex virus particles by causing them to clump together. When put through a machine that mimics human chewing, over half the FRIL was released within just 15 minutes of chewing.
Impressive Results Against Common Viruses
The researchers tested their gum against four viruses: two strains of flu (H1N1 and H3N2) and two types of herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2). When tested with a virus level similar to what’s found in saliva, the gum was able to block more than 95% of the viruses. It worked against flu strains at relatively low doses, and also stopped both types of herpes, though HSV-1 needed a higher amount than HSV-2.
This isn’t the team’s first try at antiviral gum. They previously developed a similar product against SARS-CoV-2 that proved more than 95% effective at neutralizing various coronavirus variants in saliva samples from COVID-19 patients.
How does this work? FRIL contains sections that attach to sugar molecules found on virus surfaces. This binding causes viruses to clump together in a way that doesn’t allow them to infect cells. If any viruses do manage to enter cells, FRIL can follow them inside and block their escape from cellular compartments, further preventing infection.
Why This Matters: The Scale of Viral Infections
Herpes simplex affects over two-thirds of people worldwide, with more than 500,000 oral herpes cases occurring yearly in the United States alone. HSV can cause brain inflammation and is the leading cause of infectious blindness in Western countries, yet no vaccines are currently approved for either HSV-1 or HSV-2.
Seasonal flu, meanwhile, affects roughly 32 million people globally each year, leading to 5-7 million hospitalizations and 300,000 deaths. The economic toll in the United States alone exceeds $11.2 billion annually. While flu vaccines exist, their effectiveness ranges from only 10% to 60% depending on the year, and many people remain unvaccinated.
Another advantage is the source material itself. Lablab beans (also called hyacinth beans) have been eaten for centuries across Africa and Asia, with cultivation dating back to 1500 BC in India. Rich in nutrients, these beans are considered “Generally Recognized as Safe” by the FDA.
What’s Next
The gum is also relatively simple to manufacture. The bean powder is incorporated into chewing gum using a compression process that doesn’t need high temperatures, making large-scale production more feasible and potentially cheaper than traditional pharmaceutical approaches.
In practice, people might use the gum during flu season or when around potentially infected individuals. Since the gum gradually releases FRIL while chewing, it could offer protection throughout the day.
The gum must now pass through clinical trials before being made available to the public. Researchers are also looking to create bird feed with lablab bean powder in order to help fight against avian flu.
Viral diseases continue to challenge public health, but current prevention strategies aren’t cutting it. This bean-based chewing gum may be a fresh approach to reducing viral transmission. By targeting viruses directly in the mouth, this technology could complement vaccines and other preventive measures, potentially reducing infection rates worldwide.
