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

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have engineered a bioengineered chewing gum that shows promise in combating viruses and bacteria linked to head and neck cancer. The gum, derived from lablab beans, contains antiviral protein FRIL and antimicrobial peptide protegrin. In tests on patient samples, the gum reduced human papillomavirus (HPV) levels by 93% and two bacterial species, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, by 80%.

The treatment did not harm beneficial mouth bacteria, unlike radiation therapy. The gum could potentially serve as an adjuvant therapy or prophylaxis against infection and transmission, supporting the development of more accessible and affordable treatments for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.