🦠 A chewing gum that traps viruses

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania developed a plant-based chewing gum that trapped more than 95% of certain viruses in saliva during lab tests.

The gum contains FRIL, a protein derived from lablab beans that binds to viruses and prevents them from remaining infectious.

Just 40 mg of the gum reduced viral loads by over 95% for influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2) and herpes viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2).

You chew it, release the antiviral protein, and potentially reduce the amount of virus available to spread through saliva.

Human trials are still needed, but if the results hold up, antiviral chewing gum could become a simple tool for reducing viral transmission.

@futurism 🧬