Scientists have developed a bioengineered chewing gum that significantly reduces cancer-linked microbes, including HPV, offering a potential low-cost oral health intervention.
Scientists have developed a bioengineered chewing gum that may help reduce microbes in the mouth linked to certain cancers, including Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and harmful bacteria associated with head and neck cancers. The research was led by Henry Daniell of the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
The study found that the gum significantly lowered levels of three key microbes associated with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC), a common and often aggressive cancer that develops in the tissues lining the mouth and throat, frequently with poor outcomes when diagnosed at later stages. Findings published in Scientific Reports suggest the gum could provide a low-cost and accessible method to reduce cancer-associated microbes without disrupting beneficial oral bacteria.
The researchers built on earlier work using chewing gum derived from lablab beans, incorporating FRIL, a plant-based protein with antiviral properties. In laboratory tests, extracts from the gum reduced HPV levels in saliva by up to 93 per cent and by 80 per cent in oral rinse samples, highlighting its potential as a preventive tool in oral health and cancer risk reduction.
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