The Exocyst

The Exocyst © started off as  an art-science research project deriving its name from a protein complex involved in exocytosis, the process of transporting stuff out of the cell. Inspired by this biological process, the project's objective is to metaphorically exorcise vampirous bacteria named Desulfovibro sp. These have been found to pre-dominantly target neurospicy people causing iron deficiencies and sucking happy energy out of them . Vampire jokes aside these bacteria have been implicated in worsening symptoms of various conditions, which affect dopaminergic pathways including autism, ADHD [1] and Parkinson's [2].

More broadly now the initiative tries to hack neurodivergent neurotransmitters to work for contemporary society. 

Initially, o do this an elixir is being created with a taste akin to a sour beer, but without the alcohol (bar an approximate 0.5%), yeast or gluten and without the fruity bubble gum taste. Instead it used organic root vegetables as a sugar base fermented by Lactobacillus reuteri, which upregulates oxytocin production [3].

Further the drink also contains extracts of barberry bark (Berberis darwinni), which contains berberine. Berberine has been seen to enhance the production of tetrahydrobiopterin, an essential co-factor in the production of dopamine and serotonin. In mice, this upregulated dopamine production by intestinal bacteria, which further increased brain dopamine [4]. It is flavoured with hydrosols of common hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium). The drink was presented at Black Box in Belfast on the 14th of November 2024 accompanied by a participatory workshop to unveil the superpowers of neurodivergent minds. 

The launch event included a 'marker' survey, gathering feedback on the drink's magical effects along some more bizarre questions , the write-up of the silly ponderings can be found here...