Researchers at McMaster University and MIT have achieved a groundbreaking dual discovery: a new antibiotic targeting inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), and an innovative use of AI to predict its mechanism of action. Documented in Nature Microbiology on October 3, 2025, this antibiotic, named enterololin, is a narrow-spectrum drug that effectively combats harmful bacteria like E. coli without harming beneficial gut microbiota, offering hope for millions suffering from Crohn’s disease.
AI played a pivotal role, accelerating the understanding of enterololin’s mechanism, which traditionally takes years and costs millions. Notably, this study reduced the time and cost of research significantly, showcasing AI’s potential in drug discovery. The drug, developed in collaboration with Stoked Bio, is on track for human trials within three years. This breakthrough emphasizes the importance of combining human expertise and AI in addressing the urgent need for novel therapies in the fight against drug-resistant infections and IBD.
