Snapshot 3:Fri, Sep 19, 2025 3:57:43 PM GMT last edited by Vandita

AI Creates First Functional Viral Genomes That Kill Bacteria

Published SEP 19 2025

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The Spin

TheThis biosecuritybreakthrough implicationsrepresents ofa AI-designedtransformative viralleap genomesin raisebiotechnology seriousthat concernscould aboutrevolutionize potentialtreatment misuseof forantibiotic-resistant bioweapons developmentinfections. WhileThe researchersAI-generated excludedphages humandemonstrated virusessuperior fromperformance, trainingwith data,some theshowing same16-65 techniquesfold couldexpansion theoreticallyrates becompared applied to dangerousnatural pathogensvariants' likemere HIV1.3-4 orfold coronavirus,increases. whichMost haveimportantly, similarthese genomesynthetic sizesphages torapidly theovercame bacteriophagesbacterial created.resistance Thethat abilitycompletely todefeated generatenatural novelphages, viraloffering variantshope withagainst enhancedthe infectivitygrowing representscrisis anof unprecedentedmultidrug-resistant capabilitybacteria that couldkills lowerhundreds barriersof tothousands biological weapons creation if applied maliciouslyannually.

The Register

The biosecurity implications of AI-designed viral genomes raise serious concerns about potential misuse for bioweapons development. While researchers excluded human viruses from training data, the same techniques could theoretically be applied to dangerous pathogens like HIV or coronavirus, which have similar genome sizes to the bacteriophages created. The ability to generate novel viral variants with enhanced infectivity represents an unprecedented capability that could lower barriers to biological weapons creation if applied maliciously.

Newsweek