Understanding how SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, mutates can lead to more effective and long-term treatments. To help identify variants of concern before they emerge, a team of researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-based software that can help predict and identify the most likely mutations of SARS-CoV-2 pathogens.
By extracting mutational information as quickly as possible through AI, this research could help inform the rapid creation of new tests and vaccines that would likely be less impacted by new or emerging variants, helping safeguard against future pandemics and outbreaks.
The technology can also be applied to other medical treatments, for diseases such as cancer, where it can help identify therapeutic targets to overcome mutation-driven drug resistance and create more effective cancer therapies.
For more information, visit the University of Waterloo.
