AI Just Designed Viruses That Kill Bacteria

Researchers at Stanford University have utilized artificial intelligence (AI) to design viruses capable of targeting and destroying bacterial cells. The team successfully created 302 unique virus genomes, out of which 16 demonstrated the ability to infect E. coli bacteria in laboratory conditions, leading to observable bacterial cell destruction.

The AI model, named Evo, was trained using the genetic information of approximately 2 million bacteriophages. Researchers chemically synthesized the AI-generated genomic sequences and introduced them to bacterial cultures, resulting in the effective replication and lysis of bacterial cells by some of the designed viruses.

Why it matters

• With antibiotic resistance affecting a growing number of bacterial infections, AI-designed viruses could potentially provide a rapid response to treatment failures.
• The project highlights the potential of AI in expediting the development of new therapies, which is increasingly vital in addressing antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The latest

• AI-driven research facilities are emerging, such as a new £20 million robotics lab in Liverpool aimed at advancing treatments for infectious diseases.