Bioengineered chewing gum may offer a way to fight HPV and other microbes

A team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania has developed a bioengineered chewing gum that could potentially combat microbes associated with head and neck cancer. In tests conducted on oral samples from patients, extracts from the gum significantly reduced levels of human papillomavirus (HPV), Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn).

Henry Daniell, the lead researcher and professor at the School of Dental Medicine, emphasized the need for more effective therapies due to the poor outcomes and quality of life issues faced by head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. While currently available cancer medications have shown limited improvements in patient quality of life and survival rates, the new gum offers a promising alternative.

The gum builds upon previous research involving lablab bean gum containing FRIL, a naturally occurring antiviral protein. By engineering the gum to include protegrin, an antimicrobial peptide, the researchers achieved a 93% reduction in HPV and an 80% decrease in Pg and Fn levels within saliva samples. Importantly, the treatment did not negatively impact the beneficial bacteria typically found in the mouth.

Daniell believes that this gum could serve as an additional therapy alongside existing treatments or as a preventive measure to prevent infection and transmission of HNSCC, particularly considering the rising incidence of HPV-linked oropharyngeal cancer in adolescents, young adults, and middle-aged adults.