Researchers at Penn’s School of Dental Medicine, in collaboration with Finnish scientists, are developing a clinical-grade chewing gum to neutralize herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2) and two strains of influenza known to cause bird flu.
Henry Daniell, W.D. Miller Professor at Penn Dental Medicine, and collaborators tested the ability of a chewing gum made from lablab beans (Lablab purpureus), which naturally contain an antiviral trap protein (FRIL), to neutralize HSV-1, HSV-2, and the influenza strains H5N1 and H7N9.
“A broad-spectrum antiviral protein (FRIL) present in a natural food product (bean powder) to neutralize not only human flu viruses but also avian (bird) flu is a timely innovation to prevent their infection and transmission,” says Daniell.
Previously, bean powder has been shown by a collaborating laboratory to effectively neutralize H5N1 and H7N9. Daniell and colleagues are currently looking to test its use in bird feed to help control bird flu. Seasonal influenza epidemics result in significant health challenges and economic losses, totaling over $11.2 billion annually in the United States.
The researchers are building on their previous work—now in clinical trials—showing that a similar approach reduced SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 patient saliva or swab samples by more than 95 per cent.
Research performed in the Daniell lab was supported by NIH grant R01 HL 107904.
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