science ๐ฌ AI designs brand new virus genomes
Researchers in the United States utilized Artificial Intelligence to design complete genomes for novel bacteriophages. The team, led by Brian Hie at Stanford University, used Evo 1 and Evo 2 models to generate these phage genomes targeting Escherichia coli C. They generated thousands of sequences, synthesizing 285 designs, with 16 proving viable in lab tests. These AI-designed phages even outperformed the natural phage phiX174 and attacked resistant strains. This development raises biosecurity concerns, prompting calls for stricter screening of synthetic genetic orders. ๐ฌ