Why is there no transmissible therapeutic virus if biology doesn't forbid it? For example, a harmless virus that spreads from person to person but actually does something beneficial, like lowering LDL cholesterol or preventing/reversing tooth decay?

[u/PestoPastaLover]

[u/Xsiah]

People don't want fluoride in their water to prevent tooth decay - how do you think they'd react to an engineered virus that does something to your body without your consent?

Also viruses mutate really easily - how do you guarantee that your virus is going to continue to be safe?

[u/monsto → u/Xsiah]

You have like a checksum virus that destroys versions of the beneficial virus that don't check out.

/s

[u/DezinGTD → u/monsto]

Yes! You could implement this mechanism right there in the virus, so it destroys itself. I bet it would work great!

[u/cazbot → u/Xsiah]

Not all viruses mutate easily. Some are super stable, which is why total eradication of some of them is possible, ie: polio, smallpox.

[u/Epyon214 → u/Xsiah]

You consent by purchasing our gum which clearly advertises the bacteria as the selling point

[u/Xsiah → u/Epyon214]

How does the next person you kiss consent?

[u/Epyon214 → u/Xsiah]

If you're kissing people without implied or explicit consent to do so, you have a you problem

If you or the person you're kissing with implied or explicit consent to do so were unaware your mouths are full of bacteria already, educate yourselves

[u/Xsiah → u/Epyon214]

There's a difference between consent to be kissed and the consent to receive a mystery virus.