The UK is to use artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle the rising numbers of infections that have become resistant to treatment.
The project – a collaboration between the Fleming Initiative and the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) – will use AI to identify new antibiotics.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health threat. It happens when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of death.
The AI will sift through vast amounts of data to find molecules that could form the basis of new antibiotics, speeding up a process that traditionally takes years and costs billions of pounds.
“We need to find new antibiotics, and we need to find them fast,” said Dr Andrew Edwards, from Imperial Collage London, who is leading the project.
“AI offers the potential to dramatically accelerate the finding of new antibiotics, and to reduce the costs involved.”
The project will focus on “novel” antibiotics – those that work in a different way to existing drugs, to wich resistance has already developed.
The Fleming Initiative is a charity that campaigns for action on AMR. GSK is providing the AI platform and expertise.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that AMR is already directly responsible for 1.27 million deaths globally each year.
Without action, it warns that this could rise to 10 million deaths a year by 2050 – more than currently die from cancer.
AI to the rescue? scientists Use Artificial Intelligence to Fight Antibiotic Resistance
Scientists are turning to artificial intelligence in a bid to overcome the growing threat of antibiotic resistance,particularly in perilous Gram-negative bacteria. These bacteria possess a formidable outer membrane that prevents many antibiotics from entering and effectively fighting infection.
Researchers at Imperial College London are performing experiments using molecules with varying chemical structures, meticulously recording which ones can penetrate and remain within these bacteria. this crucial data will then be used to train an AI, enabling it to learn the specific characteristics required for an antibiotic to successfully persist inside a Gram-negative bacterium.
“The sort of AI that people are using routinely today is built on the sum total of information on the internet – it doesn’t just produce answers out of thin air,” explains Dr. Edwards. “If you want to make progress, you have to have data.”
The project aims to drastically reduce the time and effort traditionally required for this type of research, effectively converting years of painstaking laboratory work into a task a computer can accomplish efficiently. Once the chemical code governing bacterial entry is deciphered, the AI will guide scientists in modifying potential antibiotics to overcome the organism’s natural defenses.
The urgency of this research is underscored by the current situation in Ukraine,where infections are emerging that are untreatable with existing antibiotics. “that means that limbs have to be amputated,” Dr. Edwards warns.”I would say it’s a glimpse into the future, but it’s happening right now, it’s a pretty horrific thought.”
The ultimate question remains: can AI truly outpace the relentless evolution of bacteria? Dr. Edwards believes that developing even a handful of effective antibiotics through this approach will allow humanity to regain the upper hand in the fight against antibiotic resistance.
New Initiative Leverages AI to Combat Antibiotic Resistance and Emerging Fungal Infections
A new global collaboration,the Fleming Initiative,is launching to tackle the growing threat of antibiotic resistance and increasingly dangerous fungal infections.Named after Alexander Fleming, who discovered penicillin in 1928, the initiative aims to revitalize antibiotic discovery and proactively address the emergence of “superbugs.”
The urgency of this effort is underscored by Fleming’s own warnings about resistance, voiced even as early as 1945 when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. alison Holmes,director of the Fleming Initiative,emphasizes that antibiotics are “one of the greatest health resources that has been squandered,” and highlights our collective dependence on these drugs for common and life-threatening infections – from cellulitis and urinary tract infections to surgical wound care and sexually transmitted infections.
The initiative will employ artificial intelligence (AI) to predict the spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, much like a weather forecast. This predictive capability will be crucial in anticipating outbreaks and implementing preventative measures. Beyond bacteria, the project will also utilize AI to combat the rise of deadly fungal infections, beginning with Aspergillus mould. While typically harmless, Aspergillus can cause severe illness and even death in individuals with compromised immune systems.
“We will open up new approaches for the discovery of novel antibiotics and also anticipate and outpace the progress of resistance to transform the treatment and prevention of serious infections,” stated Tony Wood, chief scientific officer at GSK, a partner in the initiative.
Researchers are already making strides in this area. Teams in the US and Canada are using AI to identify and even design new antibiotics to combat drug-resistant bacteria,including strains of gonorrhoea.
The need for such innovation is clear.recent data from the UK government reveals that nearly 400 new antibiotic-resistant infections are being detected each week in 2024, demonstrating the escalating crisis. The Fleming Initiative represents a critical step towards safeguarding the future of antibiotic effectiveness and protecting global public health.
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