Not an opiate but almost as good as one (personally, I'd say it's even better):
THC!
Communicated just recently:
Press release of the Technical University of Dortmund, 18.08.2010
Chemists Succeed for the First Time in the Production of the Synthetic Cannabis-Agent
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient of the Cannabis-plant, could be used by now in many medical fields: In cancer therapy, for the treatment of multiple sclerosis or against chronic pain. The problem is though that the cultivation of Cannabis is restricted almost entirely by the Betäubungsmittelgesetz (BtmG). Only 20 kg per year can be produced, but the actual need is about a ton. An exit to this dilemma is now posed by a procedure, which Prof. Oliver Kayser of the technical biochemistry section of the TU Dortmund has developed: He succeeded for the first time in the heterologous biosynthesis of THC. A biotechnological process is in development in cooperation with Prof. Andreas Schmid from the biotechnology section.
In Germany is THC produced these from hemp, whose cultivation or import is illegal. Because the fibers contain only about 0.2% THC, the production process is accordingly laborious. From the Cannabis-plant, which can contain up to 25% THC, the isolation is not possible due to juridical reasons in Germany. The only remaining loophole is therefore the production of synthetic THC. While the classic synthesis of the Cannabis-agent is extremely expensive and laborious is the biosynthesis developed by Oliver Kayser out of the plant comparably economical and less time-consuming. For this task did the biochemist and his team identify the genes, which are responsible for the production of THC in Cannabis, and isolated them. Subsequently they were transferred into microorganisms, which were then propagated, to produce THC in a bioreactor. The result: Pure THC as heavily isolated agent. [sic!]
“In the context of our works we aim at going even further by implementing the human enzymes as genes in that microorganisms, which already produce THC”, says Oliver Kayser. By this genetic modification of the bacterial metabolic potential it is thought to produce the metabolites, too, which can be provided as references for the forensic analytics of law enforcement agencies to aid in the detection of illegal consumption of hashish. But not only for pharmacy does the process, developed by the biochemists from Dortmund, pose advantages. The synthesis of human metabolites of pharmaceutical agents is a real challenge for chemists, because the liver enzymes can transform them quite selectively and specifically. This chemical modification can be achieved in the laboratory only with much arduousness and with creating immense costs. By the application of human liver enzymes, the so-called cytochromes, can the metabolism, i.e. the chemical modification, be achieved in exactly the same fashion, like in our bodies.
But to get Prof. Kayser’s microorganism-produced THC to the patients, is takes more. At this point comes the chair for biotechnology of Prof. Andreas Schmid into the game. Together shall the process engineering be developed, to obtain an industrial product. For this aim the THC-producing microorganism have to be further optimized, to manufacture THC at greater scale by this way. The biochemists were supported by the company THC Pharm (Note: Thisn was the same company that found JWH-018 in Spice for the first time) and by the R & D-network “ChemBiotec” of the German Federal Foundation “Umwelt” (environment).
With regard to the original question(s):
Memeito said:
Can a bacteria be genetically modified so it can produce morphine, heroin or other opiates?
In theory yes. But it is anything but trivial!
Memeito said:
Can you imagine how convenient would be to get drugs this way?
Just put some spores on a growth medium and you will get free drugs forever.
Oh no, definitely not. You're
seriously underestimating the effort and technical equipment needed to a) produce an opiate-producing microorganism, b) to cultivate it in large scale and c) to isolate the alkaloids from it. Theory and practise are a different kettle of fish.
Peace! -
Murphy
8) 8(
