UW–Madison AI model identifies phage mutations that improve killing of target bacteria (Cell Systems)

University of Wisconsin–Madison biochemists led by Vatsan Raman built an AI model that identifies phage mutations with the greatest potential to improve targeting and killing of bacteria. In laboratory tests, phages carrying AI-suggested mutations infected their bacterial hosts up to six orders of magnitude more effectively than natural counterparts, and the model was also trained to pick mutations that target specific bacteria while sparing others, a step toward treatments that spare beneficial gut microbes.