Approximately 162,000 virus species discovered with artificial intelligence: A breakthrough in medicine
As a result of a joint study by Australian and Chinese scientists, approximately 162,000 new virus species have been identified using artificial intelligence technology.
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According to a statement on the University of Sydney's website, researchers from several institutions, including the University of Sydney and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, have discovered 161,979 new virus species with RNA (ribonucleic acid) genetic material using artificial intelligence technology.
In the study, where scientists created a deep learning algorithm with artificial intelligence, they developed a deep learning algorithm called LucaProt to calculate genetic sequence data, such as viral genomes extending up to 47,250 nucleotides, to discover viruses.
Researchers stated that while information on most of the discovered viruses was already in existing databases, this data was organized and categorized using artificial intelligence technology.
Edwards Holmes, one of the authors of the study, described the work as "a window into a hidden part of life on Earth," emphasizing that this study represents the largest number of new virus species discovered in a single research project.
Noting that there are millions more virus species yet to be discovered, Holmes stated that the same application could also be used for the discovery of bacteria and parasites.
Mang Shi, another author of the study, explained that before the use of artificial intelligence technology, bioinformatics pipelines were used, but this limited the diversity that could be discovered.
Noting that the artificial intelligence model created allows for a much deeper examination of viral diversity, Mang expressed that they plan to use this model in various applications.
The research was published in the journal "Cell".