In a groundbreaking development, scientists are harnessing artificial intelligence to design viruses capable of hunting and destroying superbugs, offering a potential solution to the global antibiotic resistance crisis. Researchers have sequenced samples from nearly one in five South Australian cystic fibrosis patients, as drug-resistant bacteria become an escalating threat worldwide.
From Microbes to Medical Breakthroughs
Professor Robert Edwards, a global leader in microbial genomics and bioinformatics at Flinders University, believes that the smallest organisms on Earth could lead to some of the biggest scientific breakthroughs. His work focuses on the invisible world of microbes and their DNA, particularly bacteria and viruses, and how they shape health, food systems, and ecosystems.
Professor Edwards explains that over the past 10 to 20 years, antibiotic-resistant bacteria have emerged as a major challenge. Infections that were once easily treatable with antibiotics are no longer guaranteed to respond, and phages—viruses that infect and replicate within bacteria, ultimately destroying them—may hold the key to new treatments.
The Role of Phages in Fighting Superbugs
Phages are among the smallest biological entities known, but they offer immense potential for understanding biology, life, health, and the environment. Professor Edwards and his team, along with other researchers in Australia and internationally, are revisiting the use of phages to treat bacterial infections.
“Phages are some of the smallest biological entities we know about, but they have so much to teach us about biology, life, health and the environment,” Professor Edwards says. “So it’s really fun to work with them every day and explore new things that we can learn.”
Artificial Intelligence in Virus Design
Perhaps the most exciting frontier of Professor Edwards’ research is the use of artificial intelligence to design viruses that can hunt down and kill harmful bacteria. AI has revolutionised the way his team works, from writing software to analyse data to generating new ideas and analytical approaches.
“It’s absolutely phenomenal what’s happened in the last few years, and the speed with which AI is changing our understanding of biology is huge,” Professor Edwards says. He emphasises the importance of guiding AI with proper guardrails to ensure it moves in the right direction.
Impact on Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Recently, Professor Edwards and his team sequenced samples from almost one in five South Australians with cystic fibrosis, developing approaches to better understand chronic respiratory diseases. Working with clinicians at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide, they have focused on patients with cystic fibrosis, a disease where AI has already made significant strides.
“People with cystic fibrosis are still exposed to lots of antibiotics and are at significant risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria,” Professor Edwards explains. “We take a sample from somebody and sequence the DNA, then use AI to try to understand the bacteria and viruses that are present.”
A New Era of Synthetic Biology
Over the next decade, Professor Edwards believes the fusion of synthetic biology with powerful digital technologies will unlock possibilities once thought unattainable. This combination could lead to a new generation of drugs, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals to treat conditions that have been particularly challenging.
In a world grappling with antibiotic resistance and emerging diseases, the answers may not lie in building something bigger, but in understanding something smaller. As Professor Edwards’ work demonstrates, when it comes to microbes, little things can indeed grow into something transformative.
