Scientists have used artificial intelligence to identify a new class of antibiotic candidates that can kill methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, better known as MRSA. The finding has been described as the first discovery of a new class of antibiotic candidates for drug-resistant bacteria in roughly 60 years.
The discovery, led by researchers at MIT, marks a promising step in the fight against drug-resistant infections. The team used deep-learning models to screen millions of compounds and predict which ones could fight MRSA while showing low toxicity to human cells. Two of the most promising compounds reduced MRSA levels in laboratory testing and mouse models, though they still need further study before they could become approved treatments.
The breakthrough highlights how AI may accelerate drug discovery at a time when antimicrobial resistance is a growing global health threat. Take a look back on the inventions and discoveries that revolutionized the medical field in this gallery.