Bioengineered chewing gum may offer a way to fight microbes linked to cancers

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania developed a bioengineered chewing gum that reduced HPV by up to 93% and nearly eliminated two bacteria linked to head and neck cancer in laboratory tests. The gum, made from lablab beans and containing natural antiviral proteins and antimicrobial peptides, preserved beneficial mouth bacteria while targeting cancer-associated microbes, potentially offering a more accessible and affordable treatment option.