PENNSYLVANIA: Researchers from different dental colleges have recently developed a chewing gum that could reduce the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Henry Daniell, the lead author of the research, and colleagues conducted a study that could lead to a low-cost tool in the armoury against the COVID-19 pandemic.
As SARS-CoV-2 replicates in the salivary glands, some of that virus can be expelled and reach others when infected, sneezes, coughs or speaks.
According to scientists, the gum offered an opportunity to neutralize the virus in the saliva, giving a simple way to cut down on a source of disease transmission.
Earlier studies showed that the receptor for ACE2 on human cells also happened to bind the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and injections of ACE2 could reduce viral load in people with severe infections.
The researchers grew Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in plants, paired with the compound that enabled the protein to cross mucosal barriers, facilitated binding, and incorporated the resulting plant material into cinnamon-flavoured gum tablets.
They noted that the gum largely prevented the viral particles from entering cells, either by blocking the ACE2 receptor or binding directly to the spike protein.
Finally, the researchers exposed saliva samples of COVID-19 patients to the ACE2 gum and found that levels of viral RNA fell to be almost undetectable.
The study 'Debulking SARS-CoV-2 in saliva using angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 in chewing gum to decrease oral virus transmission and infection' has been published in Molecular Therapy.
