In our increasingly interconnected world, infectious diseases continue to pose significant threats, as seen with outbreaks such as COVID-19, H1N1, SARS, Ebola, Zika, and H5N1 (bird flu). These viruses have triggered global health crises and inflicted massive economic damage.
Everyday Viruses, Long-Term Impact
While these major outbreaks dominate headlines, common viral infections also create serious global challenges. Seasonal influenza, for example, causes annual epidemics and costs the U.S. economy over $11.2 billion each year. Additionally, herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), which spreads mainly through oral contact, infects more than two-thirds of the global population and is the leading cause of infectious blindness in Western countries.
The Problem: Gaps in Prevention
Despite the burden of these viruses, vaccination rates for influenza remain low, and no vaccine currently exists for HSV. This highlights a critical need for alternative prevention strategies—especially ones that reduce viral loads at the source of transmission. Since viruses like influenza and HSV transmit more efficiently through the mouth than the nose, the oral cavity becomes a key target for intervention.
The Innovation: Antiviral Chewing Gum
In response to this need, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine, in collaboration with Finnish scientists, developed a novel antiviral solution. Published in Molecular Therapy, the study introduced a chewing gum made from Lablab purpureus (lablab beans), which naturally contain a broad-spectrum antiviral protein called FRIL.
Building on earlier research—currently in clinical trials—that showed this gum could reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral load in saliva by over 95%, the team expanded testing to include HSV-1, HSV-2, and two influenza A strains (H1N1 and H3N2).
Powerful Results from a Natural Source
The team demonstrated that just 40 milligrams of bean-based gum in a two-gram tablet was enough to reduce viral loads by more than 95%. This reduction mirrored the results seen in their COVID-19 studies.
Importantly, the gum was manufactured to clinical-grade quality under FDA drug product guidelines. Safety testing confirmed the gum to be safe for human use. “These observations augur well for evaluating bean gum in human clinical studies to minimize virus infection and transmission,” said Henry Daniell, W.D. Miller Professor at Penn Dental Medicine.
Next Steps: Tackling Bird Flu
As reported by medicalxpress, the researchers are now turning their attention to bird flu, which has severely affected poultry populations across North America. In the past three months alone, H5N1 has impacted 54 million birds, with several human cases also reported.
Previous studies have shown that bean powder can neutralize both H5N1 and H7N9 strains—types of influenza A that infect birds and humans. Daniell’s team now plans to test the bean powder in bird feed as a preventive measure to help curb bird flu outbreaks.
A Natural, Broad-Spectrum Defense
“Controlling virus transmission remains a major global challenge,” said Daniell. “A broad-spectrum antiviral protein like FRIL, derived from a natural food product, offers a timely and practical solution—not just for human influenza and herpes viruses, but also for avian flu prevention.”