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[TECHNOLOGY] · United States · 4 sources

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Stanford and Arc Institute researchers use AI to design functional bacteriophages

Researchers from Stanford University and the Arc Institute have successfully used generative AI models, specifically Evo 1 and Evo 2, to design functional bacteriophage genomes. The study, published in Science, involved testing 285 AI-generated designs, of which 16 resulted in functional viruses capable of replicating and attacking Escherichia coli (E. coli).

These AI-designed bacteriophages demonstrated the ability to target E. coli strains that had developed resistance to natural bacteriophages. This development offers potential new avenues for phage therapy to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

While the technology shows promise for medical applications, experts noted that the ability to design viral genomes raises significant biosecurity and biosafety concerns. The research team implemented safety measures to address the potential for misuse of synthetic genetic code.

Entities

Arc Institute · Brian Hie · Escherichia coli · Evo 1 · Johns Hopkins University · Science · Stanford University

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