L’Artificial intelligence discovers a new antibiotic. Thanks to artificial intelligence, a novel antibiotic against an antibiotic-resistant bacterium has been discovered. The news comes from a major Canadian research center. The results can be read in the specialist journal natural chemical biology. The World Health Organization recognizes thisantibiotic resistance as one of the biggest problems worldwide. This problem is particularly felt in Italy, the European country with the highest number of deaths overall.
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Artificial intelligence discovers a new antibiotic: The new drug does not attack the good bacteria
The researchers tested the new antibiotic on the skin of mice infected with the superbug. By checking the bacterial growth, they found that it stopped and the drug was working. But there is more. Unlike antibiotics in general, the drug did not also affect the good bacteria, which are essential to our well-being and are one of the side effects of this class of drugs.
Artificial intelligence has saved a lot of time usually spent on data analysis. In short, we are facing a new frontier in medical experimentation.
The drug affects one of the most insidious bacteria in the world
Researchers were looking for an antibiotic against itActinetobacter baumanii. This is a particularly insidious bacterium that is often “caught” during hospital stays. So far, this bacterium has proven to be resistant to other antibiotics known to date. The infection can affect the skin, but also the blood and respiratory tract. A Recent study Research by the American Academy of Microbiology found that those affected died 25% of the time.
Artificial intelligence discovers a new antibiotic: how did the algorithm work?
Using a special algorithm, the researchers analyzed a large number of antibacterial molecules. In just two hours, the artificial intelligence analyzed all the data entered by the researchers. The human brain would have needed several months for the same analysis. This made it easier to find the right ones. Eventually, they identified a chemical compound called RS102895 that can stop the bacterium from entering cells.
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