Nicotine-eating bacteria could help smokers quit

An enzyme from bacteria that live on tobacco plants may be the key to a “vaccine” to help smokers quit.

The enzyme, NicA2, is found in the bacteria Pseudomonas putida. The bacterium depends on nicotine found in soil in tobacco fields as its only source of the carbon and nitrogen it needs to live. By consuming nicotine in a smoker’s system before it reaches the brain and delivers its desired “reward”, the enzyme could offer significant improvement over existing smoking cessation options such as gum, patches and pills.

In an experiment, researchers added nicotine to a blood sample at a level corresponding to smoking one cigarette, then added the NicA2 enzyme. The half-life of the nicotine — a measure of how long it remains active in the blood — reduced from 2-3 hours to 9-15 minutes. Higher doses, along with chemical alterations, could bring an even faster reduction, perhaps keeping nicotine in the blood from ever reaching the brain. When this happens, smokers will no longer feel the pleasure highs associated with smoking, pushing them to quit the activity.