Scientists Developing Chewing Gum That Might Prevent Covid-19 Transmission

The scientists and medical experts are working day and night everyday to develop vaccines and other treatment, prevention methods to fight Covid-19 infection and its transmission. And now, scientists are developing a chewing gum made using a plant-grown protein that can act as a 'trap' for Coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, and can help in reducing the viral infection in saliva and may even cut the transmission. Read on to know more about this research.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus can enter into human cells by attaching on ACE2 proteins that are present on the surface of certain cells in the body. Thus, the researchers have developed a chewing gum that has a copy of ACE2 protein. Through test-tube experiments, they took saliva samples from Covid positive patients and mixed them with a powdered form of the chewing gum. They found out that the particles of Coronavirus latch  themselves to the ACE2 "receptors", that are in the chewing gum.

After getting results of the research, the researchers observed that people who are fully vaccinated still have a chance of getting infected with SARS-CoV-2 and can transmit a viral load similar to those who are not vaccinated. Strong evidence proves that those who are infected with Covid infection have higher levels of virus in their saliva. Therefore, US researchers wanted to get a more thorough and deep understanding of whether a specially developed chewing gum can reduce the levels of virus in the mouth or not. 

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As per the researchers from University of Pennsylvania, 5 mg of chewing gum can actually prevent viral entry into human cells while 50 mg of the chewing gum lowered viral entry by 95%. Daniell, who led the study published in the journal 'Molecular Therapy', said, "This gum offers an opportunity to neutralise the virus in the saliva, giving us a simple way to possibly cut down on a source of disease transmission."

"SARS-CoV-2 replicates in the salivary glands, and we know that when someone who is infected sneezes, coughs, or speaks some of that virus can be expelled and reach others," said Henry Daniell at the University of Pennsylvania in the US. His lab had developed a copy of this protein, using a patented plant-based production system. This system can help in preventing the common barriers that can come in between the protein drug synthesis: which is an expensive production and purification process, according to the researchers.

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