Why in news?
• Researchers in France have put forward a hypothesis that the presence of nicotine actually equips the body to fight COVID-19. And they are conducting trials to test the hypothesis.
About:
• At the centre of the nicotine hypothesis is a receptor that responds to nicotine as well as a chemical called acetylcholine. Hence its name: “nicotinic acetylcholine receptor”, abbreviated as nAChR.
• nAChR is found in parts of the nervous system, muscle and certain tissues of organisms including humans. Nicotine is known to bind with the nAChR receptor.
• According to the hypothesis, If nicotine is present on the receptor, and the novel coronavirus arrives, then the nicotine would block the interaction.
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