Could extinct species and ancient DNA hold the key to solving one of today’s greatest medical challenges? In this episode, Professor César de la Fuente, Presidential Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania and pioneer in AI-driven drug discovery, explains how machines are uncovering new antibiotics from the DNA of Neanderthals, woolly mammoths, and other ancient organisms.

As one of the youngest tenured professors in Penn Medicine history, Prof. de la Fuente has already designed the first computer-generated antibiotic effective in animal models and identified over a million potential antimicrobial compounds using machine biology. His work sits at the intersection of AI, evolutionary biology, and medicine, aiming to combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) worldwide.

In this conversation, we explore:

• How AI accelerates the discovery of antibiotics from ancient genetic material.
• Why extinct organisms may contain clues for next-generation antimicrobial therapies.
• The global health threat posed by antimicrobial resistance and bacterial biofilms.
• The potential of machine biology to revolutionize medicine and drug discovery.

From ancient DNA to cutting-edge AI, this episode provides a glimpse into the future of antibiotics and the next wave of medical innovation.

Follow Prof. César de la Fuente and his research here.

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/38oMlMr 

Keep up with Prof. César socials here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/delafuentelab/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delafuentelab/

X: https://x.com/delafuentelab

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