"Chewing gum in line, eh?"
Posted on 12/04/2021 5:21:09 AM PST by Ouch
Previous evidence has shown that people infected with Covid-19 have high levels of the virus in their saliva. Now, researchers have developed an experimental chewing gum that traps SARS-CoV-2 viral particles, the coronavirus that causes Covid-19. The gum may help lower viral transmission when infected individuals breathe, talk, or cough, reports Nancy Lapid for Reuters. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania published details of the study this month in the research journal Molecular Therapy.
The experimental gum traps viral particles through copies of a receptor called the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors riddled along its surface. Like a key inserted into a locked door, SARS-Cov-2 enters human cells by latching onto ACE2 receptors. ACE2 proteins are found lining the surfaces of some cells and epithelial tissues in the body, such as the lungs, heart, blood vessels, kidneys, liver, and gastrointestinal tract.
(Excerpt) Read more at smithsonianmag.com ...
The experimental gum traps viral particles through copies of a receptor called the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors riddled along its surface. Like a key inserted into a locked door, SARS-Cov-2 enters human cells by latching onto ACE2 receptors. ACE2 proteins are found lining the surfaces of some cells and epithelial tissues in the body, such as the lungs, heart, blood vessels, kidneys, liver, and gastrointestinal tract.
Scientists designed the gum with plant-derived ACE2 proteins with the novel idea that viral particles will latch onto the gum, minimizing the ability for the virus to spread from one’s mouth to others, reports Grace C. Roberts for the Conversation.
To test the gum’s effectiveness in trapping the virus, researchers collected saliva samples from Covid-19 patients and mixed them with a powdered form of the gum. When looking at the samples, the team found that the gum laced with ACE2 proteins had soaked up viral particles from the infected saliva, whereas normal chewing gum did not have the same effect. In total, the viral load in infected samples was lowered by 95 percent when mixed with 50 milligrams of the powdered gum, Reuters reports.
The researchers note that the gum looks and feels like the type of gum found in convivence stores and can be stored at normal temperatures for years without damaging the ACE2 protein molecules.
However, the gum is still in early-stage research and has not been tested in humans or in real-world scenarios. The results are from experiments conducted in lab-controlled conditions using a machine that simulated chewing, Roberts notes in the Conversation. While the chewing gum laced with the proteins traps more viral particles, the experiment does not answer questions like how body temperature or oral bacteria impact the effectiveness of the gum or how long will the gum’s ability to trap viral particles lasts, per the Conversation.
Although the gum reduced the virus transmission ability in infected saliva, it is still unknown how the gum will be helpful in those who are not infected since the virus can still be transmitted through droplets from the nose and eyes.
Overall, the gum could theoretically be effective against other variants of Covid-19 since all forms of SARS-CoV-2 enter the body by latching onto ACE2 proteins regardless of mutations. However, real-world applications still need to be completed to confirm this. If found to be an effective tool, the gum could be another prevention tactic to add to the current toolkit of public health measures against the virus like masks, social distancing, and vaccination. The chewing gum could also be useful in countries where vaccines are sparsely available or unaffordable, per Reuters.
Pretty slick! I hope this pans out to be effective. It sounds like it might cut down on how easily it is transmitted, too? Fewer viruses in the saliva, fewer viruses spewed into the surrounding air?
Very cool. Thanks for posting!
Here’s what I want to know: If the viral load is so high in saliva, why do they need to jam a swab up your nose into your brain to test for it?
So they're going to thoroughly test it for a year or so before they release it to the public. Pity they didn't do the same with the jab.
Fauci says no,need vaccines
Everything works against covid except the jabs
Now we have to wear masks and chew gum at the same time :-/
How about soaking your regular gum in Listerine for a bit before using...
Sponsored by Wrigleys!
Duh. Viruses are the way the body eliminates toxins. They are not a poison or germ. They provoke fever to burn off toxins. So a chewing gum to reduce so-called viral load could be deadly.
Oh my.
Lol! I was wondering the same. Also wondering if I’ll need to start carrying something to scrape off my shoes once this gum goes public.
There was something about sugar free gum that worked similar to xclear in the nose
I use both. I don't know if it makes a difference, but it can't hurt.
“If the vral load is so high in saliva, why do they need to jam a swab up your nose into your brain to test for it?”
To show their dominance, control. Kind of like what the CCP did to state dept. personnel.
Could be jujubes may work better than gum. Or maybe pop rocks up the schnoz might help.
There is a covid test that uses saliva. I don’t know why it’s not more popular.
Does this chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight? If your mother says don’t chew it, do you swallow it in spite? Can you catch it on your tonsils, can you heave it left & right? Does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?
So many questions...
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