Yahoo Finance Scientists set AI to work on finding vaccines to combat the next Disease X
Artificial intelligence is being utilised to help develop a new generation of vaccines capable of protecting against new diseases with pandemic potential.
AI created by researchers at Leipzig University, in Germany, will be used to build up a “vaccine library” that future scientists can access and quickly design new jabs when faced with an outbreak of a novel pathogen – a so-called “Disease X”.
The technology will analyse the genetic structures of pathogens taken from 10 high-risk viral families that have the potential to mutate and trigger a pandemic.
Scientists from Leipzig University will initially focus on modelling protein sites in paramyxoviruses and arenaviruses, which include Nipah virus and Lassa virus, that have the potential to generate strong immune responses in humans.
These viral protein targets, when presented to the human body via a vaccine, are crucial for training the immune system to identify and fight off the real infection.
After identifying the right proteins, the Leipzig researchers will then develop vaccine blueprints that can be stored in a virtual library and, in the event of an outbreak, accessed and adapted to rapidly manufacture candidates for clinical trials.
Through this approach, scientists hope they will be able to streamline the development of future vaccines against as yet unknown pathogens with pandemic potential within 100 days of identification.
‘Critical first step’ in Disease X fight
The emergence of a new Disease X is inevitable, scientists warn, citing the forces of globalisation, urbanisation, and climate change in increasing the likelihood and frequency of infectious disease outbreaks.
Leipzig University’s research is being supported by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), which announced on Tuesday that it has provided £1.5 million in funding to the project.
Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, said the creation of a global vaccine library was crucial to better preparing the world against future pandemics.
“Recent advances in AI technology have made it possible to quickly and effectively model potential viral vaccine targets,” he said.
“Creating an accessible repository of these AI-generated antigen designs is a critical first step in creating such a vaccine library, the benefits of which would be game changing.”
Prof Jens Meiler, Director of the Institute of Drug Discovery at Leipzig University, said: “Computational vaccine design including artificial intelligence holds the promise for a rapid response to emerging viral diseases.”
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