This chewing gum, which contains the ACE2 protein, would be able to neutralize the virus and thus slow down its transmission.
- This chewing gum contains ACE2, a plant protein that binds to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.
- By trapping the virus, ACE2 reduces the viral load of people with Covid-19.
- The chewing gum has shown promising results in the laboratory, and is now waiting to be tested on humans in clinical trials.
Could chewing gum protect us against Covid-19 contamination?
This is what scientists from the University of Pennsylvania (USA) say. In a study published in the journal Molecular Therapythey explain that they have developed a particular chewing gum: this contains the plant protein ACE2 which “traps” the SARS-CoV-2 virus, reducing the viral load in saliva and potentially slowing down its transmission.
“SARS-CoV-2 replicates in the salivary glands, and we know that when an infected person sneezes, coughs or talks, some of this virus can be expelled and reach other people, says Henry Daniell of the Pennsylvania School of Dentistry, lead author of the study. This gum offers the ability to neutralize the virus in saliva, giving us a simple way to potentially reduce a source of disease transmission.”
A vegetable protein with many properties
Previously, Prof. Daniell studied angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) protein in the context of the treatment of hypertension. This work turned out to be fortuitous in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. It turns out that the ACE2 receptor on human cells also binds to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Other research groups have shown that injections of ACE2 can reduce viral load in people with severe infections.
At the same time, researchers have developed a chewing gum infused with vegetable proteins to destroy dental plaque. Combining his knowledge of ACE2 with this technology, Daniell wondered if such chewing gum, infused with ACE2 proteins grown in plants, could neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in the oral cavity.
A decrease in viral load
To find out, they incubated the chewing gum with samples obtained from nasopharyngeal swabs from Covid-19 positive patients. The results showed that ACE2 could neutralize SARS-CoV-2. In more detail, chewing gum largely blocked the virus from entering cells, either by blocking the cells’ ACE2 receptor or by binding directly to the spike protein.
The gum was then tested on saliva samples from patients with Covid-19 with ACE2 gum. Again, viral RNA levels dropped so dramatically that they were almost undetectable.
Researchers now want permission to conduct a clinical trial to assess whether the gum is safe and effective when tested in people infected with SARS-CoV-2. If so, it could be given to patients whose infection status is unknown or even during a dental check-up, when masks need to be removed, to reduce the likelihood of transmitting the virus to healthcare workers.
“We are already using masks and other physical barriers to reduce the chances of transmission. This gum could be used as an additional tool in this fight”hopes Professor Daniell.
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