New Strategy for Smoking Cessation (nic-eating bacterial enzyme)

[nicnik]

A bacteria found in soil around tobacco plants looks to be a new toy for scientists, and a potential source of dumb jokes for the media.

"The bacterium is like a little Pac-Man," said Janda. "It goes along and eats nicotine."

Chemists report nicotine-chomping bacteria may hold key to anti-smoking therapy

A New Strategy for Smoking Cessation: Characterization of a Bacterial Enzyme for the Degradation of Nicotine :

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[pennysmalls]

From the first article:

"The idea behind an enzyme therapy would be to seek out and destroy nicotine before it reaches the brain—depriving a person of the "reward" of nicotine that can trigger relapse into smoking."

If I had tried something like this, something that greatly lessens the "reward" of nicotine I would have just ingested more nicotine. I think it's important for someone trying to quit to have unrestricted access to nicotine and it's rewards but this enzyme sounds like it would be the opposite and severely restrict the access to nicotine. Seems like a fail to me.

 

[AndriaD]

From the first article:

"The idea behind an enzyme therapy would be to seek out and destroy nicotine before it reaches the brain—depriving a person of the "reward" of nicotine that can trigger relapse into smoking."

If I had tried something like this, something that greatly lessens the "reward" of nicotine I would have just ingested more nicotine. I think it's important for someone trying to quit to have unrestricted access to nicotine and it's rewards but this enzyme sounds like it would be the opposite and severely restrict the access to nicotine. Seems like a fail to me.

This... It seems to me more of a way for the self-righteous puritan Nic Nazis to punish smokers, than any legitimate way to quit smoking. Nicotine ain't the problem, you TC total idiots!!!!!!!

Andria

 

[pennysmalls]

This is something that might work for people before they become smokers. New smoker takes a pill then smokes a cig, no nic and no nic addiction. They got it backwards me thinks.

 

[AndriaD]

This is something that might work for people before they become smokers. New smoker takes a pill then smokes a cig, no nic and no nic addiction. They got it backwards me thinks.

Shhh, don't give 'em any ideas, they'll be putting it in the water, and babies' formula.

Andria

 

[pennysmalls]

If you think about it though this could wipe out smoking. If there's a pill to prevent nic addiction from starting no one would smoke. It would be useless for people who already smoke but for those who want to try smoking and don't want the addiction this would work, but then who would do that?

 

[B2L]

It certainly wouldn't lessen the oral fixation, hand to mouth, something to do with my hands, etc, etc etc which were big issues for me in quitting.

Also, nicotine isn't the devil it's been made out to be and has shown promise in treating Alzheimer's among other things.

Anyway, if it were to work and eliminate/severely diminish the smoking population where would the govt and BT get their funding? It would be squashed by the establishment.

Not to mention, what if the little pac-men got into your brain and decided that the brain cells were more tasty than the nicotine

Yup, I'll stick to vaping

 

[AndriaD]

If you think about it though this could wipe out smoking. If there's a pill to prevent nic addiction from starting no one would smoke. It would be useless for people who already smoke but for those who want to try smoking and don't want the addiction this would work, but then who would do that?

A lot of people, I'm sure -- nicotine has benefits, even if you don't grow addicted to it -- or no one who's never smoked would be vaping, but some do seem to be, for the health advantages of nicotine use.

Andria

 

[pennysmalls]

A lot of people, I'm sure -- nicotine has benefits, even if you don't grow addicted to it -- or no one who's never smoked would be vaping, but some do seem to be, for the health advantages of nicotine use.

Andria

This has me wondering...if the enzyme blocks the reward of nic from the brain then would there still be benefits from the nic? This will be interesting to watch, if it goes anywhere.

 

[AndriaD]

This has me wondering...if the enzyme blocks the reward of nic from the brain then would there still be benefits from the nic? This will be interesting to watch, if it goes anywhere.

Even if it somehow stops the dopamine release, it would still have the effect of organizing the neurotransmitters, as well as the anti-inflammatory effect. But if this bacteria somehow stops all the benefits of nicotine, that seems somewhat on the order of designing a drug to BLOCK the effects of... I dunno, antibiotics? anti-hypertensives? bronchodilators? etc. Why bother making something designed to block a positive effect.

Andria

 

[B2L]

This has me wondering...if the enzyme blocks the reward of nic from the brain then would there still be benefits from the nic? This will be interesting to watch, if it goes anywhere.

I would imagine not if it's being eaten by the bacteria.

 

[pennysmalls]

Even if it somehow stops the dopamine release, it would still have the effect of organizing the neurotransmitters, as well as the anti-inflammatory effect. But if this bacteria somehow stops all the benefits of nicotine, that seems somewhat on the order of designing a drug to BLOCK the effects of... I dunno, antibiotics? anti-hypertensives? bronchodilators? etc. Why bother making something designed to block a positive effect.

Andria

Yeah, I'm trying to understand how that would work. I don't understand any of this all to well.

 

[pennysmalls]

I wo


I would imagine not if it's being eaten by the bacteria.

That's what I assumed too.

 

[satchvai]

Blocking the nic in tobacco smoke won't do anything about the other addictive components in the smoke.

 

[BuGlen]

I read this story about nicotine eating bacterium this morning and a voice in my head started repeating: "Welcome to the Umbrella corporation." Everyone get your guns, because the zombie apocalypse is just around the corner.

 

[DrMA]

If only there were a way to enjoy harmless nicotine without all the dangerous stuff in burning plant matter... Oh wait [emoji85]

 

[nicnik]

This has me wondering...if the enzyme blocks the reward of nic from the brain then would there still be benefits from the nic? This will be interesting to watch, if it goes anywhere.

I guess there would still be throat hit. That feels like the part I'm most addicted to. And there's the inhale, then the exhale of visible smoke or vapor. I feel somewhat addicted to that, too. Involvement of hands, somethat. I'm really unsure of how much of the addiction for me has to do with it reaching my brain.

 

[AndriaD]

I guess there would still be throat hit. That feels like the part I'm most addicted to. And there's the inhale, then the exhale of visible smoke or vapor. I feel somewhat addicted to that, too. Involvement of hands, somethat. I'm really unsure of how much of the addiction for me has to do with it reaching my brain.

ROFL... it ALL reaches your brain, one way or another; just doing something you enjoy, for WHATEVER reason, releases dopamine and serotonin.

Everything in *life* is a chemical reaction of one sort or another, and that includes all our perceptions.

Andria

 

[nicnik]

ROFL... it ALL reaches your brain, one way or another; just doing something you enjoy, for WHATEVER reason, releases dopamine and serotonin.

Everything in *life* is a chemical reaction of one sort or another, and that includes all our perceptions.

Thanks. I think you're right. I meant the nicotine reaching my brain, but what you point out here might be the best way for me to look at it.

 

[AndriaD]

Thanks. I think you're right. I meant the nicotine reaching my brain, but what you point out here might be the best way for me to look at it.

I think that has a lot to do with why e-cigs are so effective for quitting smoking; not only do they supply nicotine, but they cause the same parts of the brain, the "enjoyment" chemicals, to fire, even, apparently, when the other chemicals of cigarette smoke aren't present -- for most people. A few of us need the extra alkaloids, but most seem to do just fine without them.

Andria