McMaster University researchers have developed a free AI tool called the ESKAPE Model to help fight superbugs. Led by graduate student Autumn Arnold and assistant professor Jon Stokes, the tool is designed to identify new antibiotics quickly and easily.
Instead of waiting for a formal research paper to be published, the team decided to release the tool immediately. “We know it’s not perfect, but it can help researchers now,” says Stokes. The tool allows scientists worldwide to provide feedback, speeding up improvements.
The ESKAPE Model targets the world’s most dangerous drug-resistant bacteria, known as ESKAPE pathogens, which are hard to treat with existing antibiotics. Using machine learning, researchers can test thousands of chemical compounds in a single day, saving time and money.
Unlike traditional lab methods that take weeks and cost thousands, this tool lets users input chemical structures using SMILES codes. With just a copy-and-paste, they can quickly see if their compounds have potential as new antibiotics.
Arnold has already used the tool to screen 12 million molecules, leading to the discovery of new antibiotic candidates now being studied.
This tool joins McMaster’s other innovations, like the Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database (CARD), solidifying its role in global antibiotic research. Stokes hopes the ESKAPE Model will help researchers worldwide find new treatments faster and more effectively.
Source: mcmaster
