According to the study, rubber traps SARS-CoV-2 particles in saliva and promises to curb the transmission of new variants of the virus.
Coronavirus transmission can be reduced by a novel experimental chewing gum. C chewing gum with a protein that holds coronavirus particles may help reduce the spread of the virus by limiting the quantity of virus in saliva.
A new study, yet peer-reviewed, has shown that a piece of experimental chewing gum can reduce Omicron particles in saliva.
According to the study, the rubber “traps” SARS-CoV-2 particles in saliva and also promises to curb the transmission of new variants of the virus.
Researchers also reported in Biomaterials that the viral particles attached themselves to the ACE2 “receptors” in chewing gum and the viral load dropped to undetectable levels.
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The coronavirus used copies of the ACE2 protein found on cell surfaces to break into cells and infect them during test-tube experiments using the saliva of individuals infected with the Delta or Omicron variants.
As researchers prepare to also launch the first human trial, COVID-19 patients will each chew four ACE2 gum tablets every day for four days in the clinical trial.
Engineered lettuce cells carry “virus trap” ACE2 proteins into rubber according to the University of Pennsylvania study.
When the researchers replaced the lettuce cells with bean powder, it also trapped the SARS-CoV-2 particles along with strains of flu and oral viruses such as human papillomavirus and herpesvirus.
