“Overcoming antibiotic resistance: A.I.-guided discovery of new antimicrobials from natural sources” by Dr. Fraser Hof

The rise of antibiotic resistance is a “slow rolling epidemic” with enormous impacts on human health. The creation of new, conventional antibiotic drugs has ground almost completely to a halt. So where can we find a solution to this global crisis? Bacteria occupy every environmental niche on the planet, and accordingly all organisms have evolved their own batteries of innate defenses against bacterial infections. Our team of researchers at UVic, UBC, and the BC CDC is combining artificial intelligence with cutting-edge experimentation to discover and develop naturally derived antimicrobials for human and animal infections.