

Using AI to discover new antibiotics
Aug 20, 2025
In this discussion, Professor Jim Collins, a leading researcher at MIT, reveals how AI is revolutionizing antibiotic discovery in the fight against drug-resistant infections like gonorrhea and MRSA. Family doctor Ann Robinson joins to highlight concerns about bloodstream infections in Indian ICUs, emphasizing the need for hygiene reforms. BBC's Dorcas Wangira reports on Rwanda's new laws allowing adolescents to access reproductive health services, sparking debates on youth health. Lastly, the nutritional role of mangoes for diabetics is reexamined, suggesting they may not be as harmful as previously thought.
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Antibiotic Resistance Is A Global Crisis
- Antibiotic resistance is a growing global crisis driven by overuse and a dwindling drug pipeline.
- New approaches are urgently needed to counter multi-drug and pan-resistant pathogens.
AI Vastly Expands Molecule Screening
- AI lets researchers screen billions of molecules in days, far beyond lab capabilities.
- This expands exploration of chemical space and speeds early discovery.
Generative AI Designs Novel Molecules
- Generative AI can design entirely new molecules rather than searching known libraries.
- This opens access to essentially infinite chemical space for drug design.