AI discovers new antibiotic to combat drug-resistant superbugs.

Scientists at MIT and McMaster University have used an AI algorithm to identify a new antibiotic, abaucin, that can kill Acinetobacter baumannii, a type of bacteria responsible for many drug-resistant infections. The compound was originally explored as a potential diabetes drug and was found to be extremely effective at killing the bacteria while having no effect on other species of bacteria. The drug has a "narrow spectrum" killing ability, minimizing the risk of bacteria rapidly spreading resistance against the drug. The scientists plan to use their modeling approach to identify potential antibiotics for other types of drug-resistant infections.