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| Experimental plant-based chewing gum that can prevent COVID 2 transmission |
Researchers have created a plant-based chewing gum that can
neutralize COVID 19 in human saliva. They have discovered that after chewing gum,
the exposure of viral RNA levels in saliva drops down to undetectable levels. They
believe that the experimental gum will aid in the reduction of transmission. The
researchers are now moving forward for clinical testing of the chewing gum. COVID
19 spreads by droplets and aerosols, when an infected person with the virus
speaks, breathes or sings. This is known as aerosol transmission. To minimize COVID
19 transmission one is required to wear a mask, physical distancing, and use air filters.
The saliva of both symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID 19
patients carries a high viral load of SARS-CoV-2. This saliva virus burden
correlates with the intensity of COVID-19 symptoms. A larger viral load is
associated with more severe symptoms. The virus replicates swiftly within
salivary glands and oral mucous membranes. Therefore there is a strong possibility
of the high-risk route for COVID 19 transmission.
It is mainly true for all the new variants such as
individuals with the Delta variant had a viral burden of 1,260 times higher
than those with prior strains. However, viral inactivation in the mouth could
be a valuable technique for limiting virus dissemination.
In a recent study, researchers from Penn Dental Medicine in
Philadelphia, PA, developed a plant-based chewing gum that may reduce the COVID
19 virus load in saliva. As COVID 19 replicates in the salivary glands, debulking
the viruses in the oral cavity will reduce the chance of reinfection as well as
prevent transmission. This gum will also increase immunity and provide
assistance to reduce the severity of the illness.
There
are encapsulated proteins in chewing gum that are stable and fully functional
for several years if stored at room temperature. This makes these chewing gums affordable
by eliminating complex manufacturing processes, expensive cold storage, and
transportation.
ACE2 receptor
ACE2 is a protein that is found on the surface of many
different types of cells. It acts as a channel for tiny proteins to enter the
cells and regulate their functions. It also plays an important role in
processes related to blood pressure, wound healing, and inflammation. COVID 19
also enters human cells via the ACE2 receptor. According to research, persons
suffering from COVID-19 respiratory distress have reduced ACE2 activity. There
is also some indication that injecting soluble ACE2 can help people with this
condition in regaining their health.
Dr. Daniell had been researching ACE2 protein before the
pandemic to find a cure for hypertension. His lab devised a way for producing
this protein that makes use of a patented plant-based production system. The
plant-based system works by inducing ACE2 DNA growth in plant chloroplasts by
bombarding plant material with it. It is ready for distribution to patients
after being freeze-dried and crushed up, avoiding the costly drug production
process. Dr. Daniell and his colleagues also studied a chewing gum packed with
plant-grown proteins that destroy tooth plaque.
Dr. Daniell contacted Ronald Collman, M.D., of Penn
Medicine, a virologist and pulmonary and critical care doctor whose team had
been collecting saliva and other biospecimens from persons infected with
COVID-19 during the pandemic.
By working together they researched on growing ACE2 in
lettuce plants alongside a chemical that allows ACE2 to bypass mucosal barriers
and enhance binding. Later mixed this protein into cinnamon-flavored chewing
gum. Began incubation with nasal swabs from Covid positive patients. The
researchers discovered that the ACE2 in chewing gum was capable of neutralizing
COVID 19 in nasopharyngeal swabs.
In
this experiment, the gum blocked viruses from entering human cells by inhibiting
the ACE2 receptor or binding directly to the spike protein. Finally, saliva
samples from persons infected with COVID 19 were exposed to both the
ACE2-infused gum and a placebo gum. While there was some reduction in viral RNA
levels in saliva after exposure to the placebo gum, levels of viral RNA in
saliva after exposure to the ACE2-infused gum were nearly undetectable.
Conclusion
Dr. Daniell explained the underlying mechanisms of ACE2-infused
gum on Covid 19. He concluded that ACE2-infused chewing gum may help protect
persons with COVID 19 infections while also lowering the risk of transmission
to others. While there may be certain limitations to this experimental gum. As
it only included only three patient samples. The ddPCR employed 15 patient
saliva samples mixed with gum but did not assess gum-chewing in COVID-19
patients. Dr. Daniell and his team are advocating for the gum to be tested in
clinical studies to determine its safety and efficacy in persons infected with
SARS-CoV-2.
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