The University of Cambridge is testing a vaccine designed by artificial intelligence on humans

Cantabrigian at a university in Britain has progressed to the stage where a vaccine designed with the help of artificial intelligence is being tested on humans, says BBC.

According to the research group, this is the first time that a central part of a vaccine has been designed entirely with the help of artificial intelligence and then tested on humans.

It is supposed to be a “completely new type” of vaccine that could protect against large groups of viruses and prevent pandemics, the researchers say.

The vaccine is designed to work against all coronaviruses. It would cover both all coronavirus variants and viruses circulating in animals that could start the next pandemic.

Vaccines teach the body to recognize the pathogen, which improves the body’s ability to fight infection.

However, some viruses mutate quickly, causing vaccines to lose their effectiveness. That is why, for example, corona and seasonal flu vaccines must be updated regularly.

“We are always one step behind,” sums up the Cambridge University professor Jonathan Heeney.

According to him, the goal is to get ahead of development so clearly that vaccines could also protect against new disease outbreaks and pandemics.

The vaccine was studied in 39 subjects. The studies primarily evaluated the safety of the vaccine.

According to the BBC, in the results published in the Journal of Infection, the effect on the immune system was “moderate”, but the findings have still attracted great interest.

The next study, involving about 200 people, will provide more detailed information on how effectively the vaccine trains the immune system.

Professor at the University of Southampton Saul Faustwho participated in some of the research, says that an AI-designed vaccine “definitely has potential.”

He told the BBC that what is particularly interesting is how much better the technology can design vaccines for potential pandemics, especially when viruses are constantly mutating.

Also other researchers interviewed by the BBC are cautiously optimistic about the vaccine designed by artificial intelligence.

of Oxford head of the vaccine group, professor Andy Pollardis eagerly awaiting the results of the tests on humans.

He estimates that artificial intelligence will fundamentally change vaccine research. According to him, artificial intelligence tools can predict how the immune system will react to the vaccine. It would speed up the development work significantly and could save lives, Pollard tells the BBC.

Scientific director of the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Marian Knight again stated to the BBC that the successful study of a “superantigen” designed by artificial intelligence marks a significant leap towards broad and long-lasting protection against viral diseases.