The University of Cambridge says it successfully tested a vaccine with an AI-designed antigen
Key takeaways
- The “super-antigen” could provide long-term protection against a wide range of diseases spread by humans.
- Panu Shot/Shutterstock Wherever you stand on the role of AI in the future of humanity, it has undeniably proved useful in the field of medical research.
- The vaccine was given to 39 healthy volunteers between the ages of 18-50 at two UK medical facilities located in Southampton and Cambridge.
The “super-antigen” could provide long-term protection against a wide range of diseases spread by humans.
Panu Shot/Shutterstock Wherever you stand on the role of AI in the future of humanity, it has undeniably proved useful in the field of medical research. And now a team of researchers from the University of Cambridge have utilized the technology to create what they call a universal vaccine that could be used to prevent future pandemics before they take hold. It's the first time that a vaccine with an active component designed entirely by a computer has been used in human trials, which reported no significant side effects.
The vaccine was given to 39 healthy volunteers between the ages of 18-50 at two UK medical facilities located in Southampton and Cambridge. It was designed to protect people against a number of Sarbeco coronaviruses, a group of viruses that include SARS-CoV-2, which was responsible for the global COVID pandemic in 2020.