Short Wave Thanks, Neanderthals: How our ancient relatives could help find new antibiotics
25 snips
Oct 30, 2023 César de la Fuente, a bioengineering professor at the University of Pennsylvania, discusses the potential of our ancient relatives in the fight against antibiotic resistance. He highlights how machine learning is used to uncover new antibiotics from ancient molecules, specifically those from Neanderthals and Denisovans. De la Fuente delves into ethical concerns surrounding de-extinction and shares insights on a promising peptide called Neanderthaline 1. The conversation is a fascinating blend of ancient science and modern medicine, perfect for curious minds.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Antibiotic Resistance Crisis
- Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem, causing over a million deaths annually.
- This number could rise to 10 million by 2050 without intervention.
AI-Driven Antibiotic Discovery
- César de la Fuente and his team used machine learning to evolve existing antibiotics.
- They tested the computer-generated molecules in petri dishes and mice, successfully killing bacteria.
Peptides in the Human Proteome
- The human proteome contains peptides with anti-infective properties.
- This discovery led to the idea of exploring proteomes of other species, including extinct ones.