TED Talks Daily How we're using AI to discover new antibiotics | Jim Collins
May 5, 2020
In this engaging discussion, bioengineer Jim Collins shares his team's innovative work at the intersection of AI and synthetic biology. He highlights their ambitious goal to discover seven new classes of antibiotics, crucial in the fight against resistant superbugs. Collins explains how they pivoted during the pandemic to create antiviral tools, including RNA sensor masks for COVID-19. His insights reveal the transformative power of technology in healthcare, promising a future where AI helps solve urgent medical challenges.
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AI-Driven Drug Discovery
- Jim Collins's lab uses AI and synthetic biology to fight pandemics.
- This approach allows for faster drug discovery compared to traditional methods.
Antibiotic Breakthroughs
- Collins's team discovered new antibiotics combating bacterial infections alongside SARS-CoV infections.
- They aim to discover seven new antibiotic classes in seven years via The Audacious Project.
Halicin: A Powerful Antibiotic
- Halicin, a novel antibiotic, combats antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
- Unlike current antibiotics, bacteria develop resistance against Halicin very slowly.