When an antibiotic fails: MIT scientists are using AI to target “sleeper” bacteria

Most antibiotics target metabolically active bacteria, but with artificial intelligence, researchers can efficiently screen compounds that are lethal to dormant microbes.

Alex Ouyang | Abdul Latif Jameel Clinic for Machine Learning in Health • mit
April 8, 2024 ~4 min

A protein found in human sweat may protect against Lyme disease

Researchers also found that a variant of the protein is not as protective against the bacteria and increases susceptibility to the disease.

Anne Trafton | MIT News • mit
March 19, 2024 ~8 min


Search algorithm reveals nearly 200 new kinds of CRISPR systems

By analyzing bacterial data, researchers have discovered thousands of rare new CRISPR systems that have a range of functions and could enable gene editing, diagnostics, and more.

Allessandra DiCorato | Broad Institute • mit
Nov. 23, 2023 ~8 min

Microbes could help reduce the need for chemical fertilizers

New coating protects nitrogen-fixing bacteria from heat and humidity, which could allow them to be deployed for large-scale agricultural use.

Anne Trafton | MIT News • mit
Nov. 15, 2023 ~6 min

Smart pill can track key biological markers in real-time

Coupling engineered bacteria with low-power electronics could be highly effective in diagnosis, treatment of bowel diseases.

Elizabeth A. Thomson | Materials Research Laboratory • mit
Sept. 8, 2023 ~8 min

Technologies for water conservation and treatment move closer to commercialization

J-WAFS awards 2023 Solutions Grants to bring two water-related innovations to the market.

Carolyn Blais | Abdul Latif Jameel World Water and Food Systems Lab • mit
Sept. 7, 2023 ~7 min

Tiny magnetic beads produce an optical signal that could be used to quickly detect pathogens

The findings point to faster way to detect bacteria in food, water, and clinical samples.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News • mit
Aug. 25, 2023 ~7 min

Newly discovered bacterial communication system aids antimicrobial resistance

SMART researchers find the enzyne RlmN, which directly senses chemical and environmental stresses, can be targeted in drug development.

Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology • mit
Aug. 2, 2023 ~6 min


Probe expands understanding of oral cavity homeostasis

A new approach opens the door to a greater understanding of protein-microbe interactions.

Lillian Eden | Department of Biology • mit
July 18, 2023 ~5 min

Chemists discover why photosynthetic light-harvesting is so efficient

The disorganized arrangement of the proteins in light-harvesting complexes is the key to their extreme efficiency.

Anne Trafton | MIT News Office • mit
July 3, 2023 ~6 min

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