Beyond heavy hitters such as COVID-19, aviar flu and ebola, the most common viral infections, such as the annual flu, Cost the USA. An estimated $ 11.2 billion every year Only in the loss of productivity, leaving a great burden for our health system and the economy.
Another generalized virus that is transmitted through oral contact is herpes simple-1 (HSV-1) virus, which infects more than two thirds of the global population and, in rare cases, can lead to encephalitis or infectious blindness.
Vaccines remain a cornerstone of prevention, but low vaccination rates, reducing immunity in older adults, or the absence of vaccines available, as is the case with HSV, highlights the need for new strategies to reduce the spread of the disease.
Researchers at the School of Dental Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, in collaboration with a Finnish team, have explored an unusual but promising solution: gum infused with antiviral compounds. His study Posted in Molecular therapy It shows that this rubber can significantly reduce the viral load in the mouth using compounds that are naturally found in beans.
Chew gum vs. COVID-19
Instead of focusing only on preventing infection, researchers sought to go to viral transmission by reducing the number of viruses present in the mouth. While vaccines are excellent to prevent serious illness, they do not always reduce the possibilities of spreading the virus, and come with challenges such as distribution, cost, storage and the need for injection.
That’s where chewing rubber enters. It is easy, not invasive, and is directed directly to the area where many viruses are replicated and propagated first. In one of his previous studies, the Penn team An antiviral protein called CTB-Ace2 to the rubber was addedwhich neutralized more than 95 percent of SARS-COV-2 particles in the saliva of patients with COVID-19, including main variants such as beta, Delta and Omicron. These encouraging results have already moved to clinical trials.
Read more: Virus: What are they, how they spread and how do we fight against them?
Expanding rubber to address flu and herpes
On the basis of this success, Henry Daniell, professor of Penn School of Dental Medicine, and his team incorporated a different antiviral protein, the lectin that interacts with the FLT3 recipient (FRIL), derived from the Lablab grains and tested its effectiveness in multiple strains of influenza and HSV.
Using a chewing simulator (a mechanical chewing device), they showed that more than half of the active compound was released in 15 minutes. Only 40 milligrams of fril were enough to reduce more than 95 percent of the viral load present.
The rubber already meets the FDA safety standards and is easy to store, so it is a convenient product that could come to the market relatively soon.
Fight against the propagation of avian flu
According to a recent one Press releaseFril also seems effective against two aviar flu strains. While gum may not be an option for birds, researchers are now testing Labab beans as additive in bird food.
“Virus transmission control remains a great global challenge,” Daniell said in the statement. “An antiviral protein of broad spectrum (FRIL), present in a natural food product (bean dust), which neutralizes not only human flu viruses, but also avian flu is a timely innovation to prevent its infection and transmission.”
Read more: The propagation of the flu of birds among dairy cows seems to be accelerating its rhythm
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After having worked as a biomedical research assistant in laboratories in three countries, Jenny stands out for translating complex scientific concepts, ranging from medical advances and pharmacological discoveries to the latest nutrition, to attractive and accessible content. Their interests extend to issues such as human evolution, psychology and stories of extravagant animals. When it is not immersed in a popular scientific book, you will find it capturing waves or navigating the island of Vancouver in its longboard.
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