The New York Times recognizes McMaster researcher Jon Stokes’ innovative contributions to combating antimicrobial resistance as one of the most noteworthy scientific and technological breakthroughs of 2023.
Stokes’ utilization of artificial intelligence to devise a remedy for a highly perilous, drug-resistant ailment afflicting vulnerable patients garners special attention in the article. The piece also acknowledges significant advancements in liver transplants and remarkable technological feats such as the deployment of NASA’s James Webb Telescope.
The disease Acinetobacter baumannii poses a severe threat, causing pneumonia, meningitis, and various infections that can lead to fatality. Designated by the World Health Organization as one of the most menacing antibiotic-resistant bacteria globally, it demands urgent attention.
Through the application of an artificial intelligence algorithm, Stokes and his team unearthed a novel bacterial compound named abaucin. This discovery opens up possibilities for the development of more precise and effective treatments, as abaucin exclusively targets A. baumannii, reducing the likelihood of rapid pathogen resistance.
Jon Stokes, an associate professor specializing in biology and biological sciences, underscores the escalating challenge posed by bacteria evolving resistance to existing antibiotics at a pace surpassing our ability to innovate new ones. This trend results in a surge of patients grappling with untreatable, drug-resistant fungal infections, significantly amplifying illness and mortality rates.
The escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance is on the brink of reaching pandemic proportions, having claimed 1.3 million lives in 2019 alone. Projections indicate a staggering annual toll of 10 million fatalities by 2050 if the current trajectory persists.
Stokes advocates for leveraging AI to navigate vast chemical landscapes swiftly, substantially enhancing the prospects of discovering novel antimicrobial agents crucial for combating this escalating crisis.
In his view, AI methodologies offer a pathway to expedite the quest for new medications cost-effectively, representing a pivotal frontier in the pursuit of innovative antimicrobial therapies.
