Leveraging artificial intelligence in the fight against infectious diseases

Despite advances in molecular biology, genetics, computation and medicinal chemistry, infectious disease remains an ominous threat to public health. Addressing the challenges posed by pathogen outbreaks, pandemics and antimicrobial resistance will require concerted interdisciplinary efforts. In conjunction with systems and synthetic biology, artificial intelligence (AI) is now leading to rapid progress, expanding anti-infective drug discovery, enhancing our understanding of infection biology and accelerating the development of diagnostics. In this review, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), including Jim Collins, life sciences lead at the MIT Jameel Clinic, the epicentre of machine learning and healthcare at MIT, discuss approaches for detecting, treating and understanding infectious diseases, underscoring the progress supported by AI in each case.