Similarly,
Ai discovers promising antibiotic compounds:
They have survived for billions of years in boiling acid, in high high and salt. However, Now. However, some of the oldest forms of life on the earth – microbes called Archaea – offer a new weapon in the fight against one of today’s most urgent health threats: antibiotic resistance. Additionally, However,
In a new study published in Nature microbiologyResearchers from the University of Pennsylvania have used artificial intelligence to. Similarly, identify compounds previously unknown in archaea which could fuel the development of new generation antibiotics.
“The previous efforts to find new antibiotics have been mainly devoted to fungi. Therefore, bacteria and animals,” explains César de la Fuente, associate professor of bio-engineering and chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of Pennsylvania Science and the main author of the newspaper. Meanwhile, ai discovers promising antibiotic compounds
In the past. Therefore, the Fuente’s laboratory has used AI models to identify antibiotic candidates in a range of improbable sources, DNA of organisms extinguished to the chemicals of animal venom. Nevertheless, Now they apply these tools to a new data set: proteins of hundreds of old microbes. Furthermore, “There is a completely different field of life that awaits to be explored,” explains the Fuente. Consequently,
Explore a microbial border – Ai discovers promising antibiotic compounds
Say separate from bacteria. Consequently, eukaryotes (which include plants, animals and mushrooms), archaea occupy their own branch on the tree of life. Nevertheless,
Although they look like bacteria under the microscope, archaea differ fundamentally in their genetics, their cell membranes and their biochemistry. In addition, These differences allow them to survive in some of the most extreme environments of the earth. Furthermore, from under -stews overheated at hot sources like those of Yellowstone ai discovers promising antibiotic compounds National Park.
Because the archaepes often thrive where few other organisms can – overwhelming pressures. Furthermore, toxic chemicals and extreme temperatures – their biology has evolved in an unusual manner. In addition, This makes it a promising but largely unexploited source of new molecular tools. including compounds which can work as antibiotics but which work differently from those currently used.
“We were attracted to the archaea because they had to develop the biochemical defenses in unusual environments. ” explains Marcelo Torres, research partner at the Fuente laboratory and co-pritif of the newspaper. “We thought that. if they survived for billions of years under these conditions, they may have developed unique ways to fight microbial competitors, and perhaps we could learn. »»
Hunt for antibiotics with AI – Ai discovers promising antibiotic compounds
To discover potential antibiotic compounds hidden in archaea, the researchers turned to artificial intelligence. The team has exploited an update version ai discovers promising antibiotic compounds of Apex. an AI tool that the Fuente laboratory was originally developed to identify antibiotic candidates in ancient biology, including in the proteins of extinct animals such as woolly mammoth.
Having seen thousands of peptides – short amino acid chains – with known antimicrobial properties. the APEX can predict the probability that a given sequence of amino acids will have similar effects.
By recycling APEX 1.1 on thousands of additional peptides. information on bacteria that cause diseases in humans, researchers have prepared the tool to predict which peptides in archaea could inhibit bacterial growth.
Scanning 233 archaea species gave more than 12,000 antibiotic candidates. The researchers nicknamed these “archaeasins” molecules. which revealed a chemical analysis differ from known antimicrobial peptides (AMP), in particular in their distribution of electrical load.
The researchers then selected 80 archaeasins to test against real bacteria. “Trying to find new antibiotics a molecule ai discovers promising antibiotic compounds at a time. it’s like looking for needles in a haystack,” explains Fangping Wan, a postdoctoral scholarship in the Fuente laboratory and the other co-prime author of the newspaper. “AI accelerates the process by identifying where the needles are likely to be. »»
Tied with existing antibiotics
Antibiotics work in several ways. Certain punchs in bacterial membranes, while others have closed the ability of organisms to make proteins. The researchers found that. unlike most of the known amps, which attack the external defenses of a bacteria, the archaeasins seem to pull the cap from the inside, blurring the electrical signals which keep the cell alive.
In tests against a range of bacteria resistant to diseases. drug resistant, 93% of the 80 archaeasins studied have demonstrated an antimicrobial activity against at least one bacteria. The researchers then selected three archaeasins to test in animal models.
Four ai discovers promising antibiotic compounds days after a single dose. archaeasins all stopped the spread of a bacteria resistant to medication often acquired in hospitals. One of the three compounds has demonstrated an activity comparable to polymyxin B. an antibiotic commonly used as the final line of defense against drug resistant infections.
This research shows that there are potentially many antibiotics that are waiting to be discovered in Archaea. With more. more bacteria developing an existing antibiotic resistance, it is essential to find new antibiotics in unconventional places to replace them. »»
César de la Fuente, presidential teacher in bio-engineering and chemical and biomolecular engineering at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania
Future studies
Then, the researchers plan to further improve the APEX so that he can predict antibiotic candidates according to their structure, potentially improving the precision of ai discovers promising antibiotic compounds the tool. Researchers also hope to better understand the long -term efficiency. security of archaeasins, in order to bring them one day to human clinical trials.
“This is only the beginning,” says Fuente. “Archaea is one of the oldest forms of life. and clearly has a lot to teach us about how to thwart the pathogens that we face today. »»
Further reading: 30 new cases of fenua tuberculosis in 2024 – New perspectives reveal how sugar metabolism protects degeneration neurons – Western Nile Virus: a first indigenous case detected in the Var – The withdrawal of early treatment provides safety and savings for patients with rare kidney disease – This summer, do not ignore these two pleasure food – and it is a nutritionist who says it.
