Scientists from Stanford University and the Arc Institute have used artificial intelligence to design complete genomes of bacteriophages viruses that infect bacteria, in a study that could advance research into alternatives to antibiotics for treating drug-resistant infections.
Why It Matters
The researchers generated thousands of potential bacteriophage genomes, chemically synthesised nearly 300 and tested them in the laboratory. Published in Science, the study is among the first demonstrations that AI can design entire viral genomes rather than individual genes or proteins. Sixteen produced functional viruses capable of infecting Escherichia coli. Although the study involved bacteriophages that infect E. coli and cannot infect humans, experts in a related Science perspective warned that generative AI capable of composing viral genomes raises significant biosafety and biosecurity questions.
