Matters Microbial #89: Can AI Point Us to New Antibiotics May 1, 2025

Today, Dr. Amir Mitchell, Associate Professor of Systems Biology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss using artificial intelligence to develop new and effective antibiotics in our endless battle against drug-resistant microbes.

Host: Mark O. Martin

Guest: Amir MItchell

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Links for this episode

• An article exploring the impact of the microbiome on drug effectiveness.
• A blog post discussing the relationship between the gut microbiome and creosote metabolism in wood rats.
• An essay about the threat of antibiotic resistance.
• A more scholarly article on this topic.
• A CDC report of the rise of antibiotic resistance.
• A very moving TED talk on this topic.
• An overview of antibiotic resistance mechanisms.
• A video from Dr. Michael Baym’s laboratory demonstrating how rapidly antibiotic resistance can occur.
• An essay discussing the use of artificial intelligence in the search for new antibiotics. 
• An article from Dr. Mitchell’s research group discussing his approach to identity new antimicrobial compounds.
• Dr. Mitchell’s faculty website.
• Dr. Mitchell’s very interesting research team website.

Intro music is by Reber Clark

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