Scientists Are Using AI To Fight Superbugs
In Brief
Researchers used artificial intelligence to discover a new antibiotic that can fight a drug-resistant superbug.
Machine Learning can be a valuable tool in antibiotic discovery.
Some people fear AI because they believe it poses a threat to humanity. However, while the robot takeover is not on the horizon and is unlikely to happen anytime soon, what is happening is AI actively helping us to keep us safe. Scientists have used artificial intelligence to discover a new antibiotic that can potentially combat a dangerous drug-resistant superbug.
Scientists from McMaster University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology used machine learning to come up with an antibiotic that can kill Acinetobacter baumannii, a bacteria common in hospitals that can cause serious infections, according to a research paper published last week.
The bacteria can spread short distances through the air in water droplets. However, it is commonly transmitted via the hands of healthcare workers. Antibiotics have become resistant to most of them, and the World Health Organization says new antibiotics are “urgently needed” to combat the bacteria.
According to the research, AI is on the march toward that goal. It says that Machine Learning, a technology that learns from past data, could be a valuable tool in antibiotic discovery. For instance, it can be used to screen hundreds of millions to billions of molecules with antibacterial features in order to combat disease.
Scientists have screened 7,500 substances before finding a new antibacterial compound. The laboratory tests showed that it could treat infected wounds in mice, so it would need further testing before it was used.
“Machine learning approaches allow for the rapid exploration of chemical space, increasing the probability of discovering new chemical matter with antibacterial activity,” says the study published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology.
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About The Author
Valeria is a reporter for Metaverse Post. She focuses on fundraises, AI, metaverse, digital fashion, NFTs, and everything web3-related. Valeria has a Master’s degree in Public Communications and is getting her second Major in International Business Management. She dedicates her free time to photography and fashion styling. At the age of 13, Valeria created her first fashion-focused blog, which developed her passion for journalism and style. She is based in northern Italy and often works remotely from different European cities. You can contact her at [email protected]
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Valeria is a reporter for Metaverse Post. She focuses on fundraises, AI, metaverse, digital fashion, NFTs, and everything web3-related. Valeria has a Master’s degree in Public Communications and is getting her second Major in International Business Management. She dedicates her free time to photography and fashion styling. At the age of 13, Valeria created her first fashion-focused blog, which developed her passion for journalism and style. She is based in northern Italy and often works remotely from different European cities. You can contact her at [email protected]
