Biological sciences

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the search for new antimicrobial treatments, particularly against bacteria like Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which causes gonorrhea . This bacterium has developed significant resistance to many existing antibiotics, complicating treatment and posing a global health threat. Consequently, researchers are increasingly utilizing innovative tools like AI to discover new compounds that could be effective treatments. One promising strategy involves using AI to target enzymes that are crucial for peptidoglycan metabolism in N. gonorrhoeae. Peptidoglycan is a vital component of bacterial cell walls, providing the necessary structural support for the bacterium's survival. By disrupting the enzymes involved in peptidoglycan synthesis, scientists aim to weaken or destroy the bacterium’s cell wall, ultimately leading to its death. Two key enzymes, L,D-carboxypeptidase (Ng-LdcA) and lytic transglycosylase (Ng-LtgD), are essential for constructing and ma...