As flu season approaches in the northern hemisphere, scientists are exploring a surprising new way to detect the virus: your tongue.
A team of researchers has developed a sensor that could one day turn chewing gum into a flu test. Instead of using nasal swabs or expensive lab equipment, this test would release a thyme-like flavor in your mouth if you have the flu.
The study, published in the journal ACS Central Science, describes how this simple flavor-based test could make it easier to catch flu infections early—possibly even before symptoms start. Early detection is key to stopping the spread of the virus, especially since people with the flu can infect others before they even feel sick.
Current flu tests, like PCR swabs, are accurate but slow and require special equipment. At-home rapid tests are faster and cheaper but may miss early or mild cases. That’s where the new taste-based approach comes in. The idea is to move away from complicated machines and instead use something everyone has access to—their taste buds.
The research team, led by Lorenz Meinel, created a small molecular sensor that’s triggered by the flu virus. When it comes into contact with the virus, it releases a molecule called thymol, which has a strong herbal flavor similar to the spice thyme.
This sensor targets a specific part of the virus called neuraminidase—the “N” in virus names like H1N1. This enzyme helps the virus break into cells, and it’s a good target for detecting flu infection.
To build the sensor, the scientists attached thymol to a synthetic molecule that mimics neuraminidase’s natural target. If the flu virus is present, it cuts off the thymol, which then becomes detectable as a flavor on the tongue.
In lab tests, the sensor worked well. When researchers added it to saliva samples from people with the flu, it released the thyme flavor within about 30 minutes. They also tested it on human and mouse cells to make sure it was safe, and the sensor didn’t interfere with how the cells functioned.
The goal is to eventually add this sensor to everyday items like gum or lozenges. You’d simply chew or suck on the product—and if you taste thyme, that could mean you’re infected. This kind of early, at-home testing could be a game-changer, especially for people working in hospitals, schools, or other places where flu spreads quickly.
Meinel and his team are now planning to begin clinical trials in humans within the next two years to confirm that the taste-based sensor works as expected in real people. If successful, the test could be a fast, easy, and affordable way to catch the flu early and stop it from spreading.
The researchers have already filed a patent for the technology with the European Patent Office, bringing us one step closer to a world where a simple piece of gum could help keep communities healthier during flu season.
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The study is published in ACS Central Science.
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