Artificial intelligence (AI) was used by researchers at the University of Texas in the United States to modify a naturally occurring antibiotic and create a human-safe version. This work, which addresses antimicrobial resistance (AMR), is being hailed as "revolutionary." 

The study team used a large language model (LLM), which is comparable to the technology underlying ChatGPT, to re-engineer Protegrin-1, a broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide, according to a publication published last week in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering. This well-known antibiotic effectively kills germs and is produced spontaneously by pigs. It used to be too toxic for human usage, too, as it also attacked the membranes of healthy cells in the body in addition to bacterial ones.

(Source: Google Images) 

The task is to kill bacteria effectively~

In order to do this, the scientists used a high-throughput technique called deep mutational SLAY analysis to create over 7,000 different versions of Protegrin-1. This allowed them to rapidly determine which changes could improve safety. 

After that, they assessed these changes' capacity to kill bacteria efficiently, target bacterial membranes specifically, and prevent damage to human red blood cells using the LLM.  The bacterially selective Protegrin-1.2 (bsPG-1.2) is an improved version that was produced using an AI-guided approach.  Early animal experiments revealed that after six hours, mice infected with multidrug-resistant bacteria and treated with bsPG-1.2 had much lower bacterial numbers in their organs. 

Bottom Line ~ 

The field of medical science has undergone a revolution in recent years, with revolutionary discoveries that are revolutionizing the delivery of healthcare as we know it. The diagnosis, management, and treatment of diseases have all been greatly enhanced by these developments, leading to better patient outcomes and quality of life. These advancements encompass everything from the development of new drugs and therapies to the application of state-of-the-art technologies. Every day, scientists strive to solve some of medicine’s toughest questions!