McMaster, Stanford, and QUT AI Model Discovers Nearly 1 Million New Antibiotics

Jun 6, 2024, 12:48 PM

Researchers from McMaster University, Stanford, and the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) have developed a groundbreaking machine learning (ML) model to accelerate antibiotic discovery, addressing the global threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This AI-driven approach has led to the discovery of nearly 1 million new molecules hidden in Earth's microbial diversity, with 100 of these new antibiotics tested and 79% showing success. The study, published in Cell, highlights the potential of AI in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and designing better drugs with fewer side effects. The research involved evaluating the genomes of 100,000 microbes, resulting in the identification of over 800,000 antimicrobial peptides, with some validated for potency. The discovery marks a significant step forward in the fight against drug-resistant infections.