AI Finds Hundreds of Potential Antibiotics in Snake and Spider Venom

Ancient Killer Is Rapidly Becoming Resistant to Antibiotics, Warns Study

In spite of having plagued humans for millennia, typhoid fever is rarely considered in developed countries today.

Computational exploration of global venoms for antimicrobial discovery with Venomics artificial intelligence

The rise of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, particularly gram-negative bacteria, highlights the urgent need for novel therapeutics. Drug-resistant infections now contribute to approximately 5 million deaths annually, yet traditional antibiotic discovery has significantly stagnated. Venoms form an immense and largely untapped reservoir of bioactive molecules with antimicrobial potential. In this study, we mined global venomics datasets to identif…

AI finds hundreds of potential antibiotics in snake and spider venom

Snake, scorpion, and spider venom are most frequently associated with poisonous bites, but with the help of artificial intelligence, they might be able to help fight antibiotic resistance, which contributes to more than one million deaths worldwide each year.

AI system found potential antibiotic compounds in snake venom

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania used a deep-learning system called APEX to screen a database of over 40 million venom-encrypted peptides (VEPs), proteins employed by animals for attack or defense, in search of potential antibiotics. In just hours, APEX flagged 368 compounds as potential antibiotics. The team published a study in Nature Communications.  From… The post AI system found over 300 potential antibiotic compounds in snake …

Antibiotic Potential of Snake, Spider, and Scorpion Venoms Unlocked

Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have used an AI tool to identify hundreds of new antimicrobial candidates in the venoms of snakes, spiders, and scorpions. In their study published in Nature Communications, the team described how they applied a custom AI model called APEX to screen more than 40 million venom-encrypted peptides (VEPs) and identified 386 VEPs with molecular signatures indicating potential as next-generation antibiotics…

Triggering Bacterial Calcification to Combat MRSA

In the relentless battle against antibiotic-resistant superbugs, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) represents one of the most formidable threats to global public health. Its notorious ability to evade conventional antimicrobials has fueled severe infections that are increasingly difficult to treat with existing therapies. However, a pioneering study, recently published in Nature Biotechnology, unveils an innovative approach that…