Disarming bacteria with the help of artificial intelligence

Ricardo Monteiro, a researcher at i3S in Porto, continues his work on antibiotic resistance, focusing on Listeria monocytogenes. Despite not yet finding a molecule to disarm the bacteria, advancements in AI have improved their research process. They evaluated over 200 million compounds, narrowing it down to 12 promising candidates. However, the antibiotic resistance issue remains critical, with no new antibiotics developed in nearly two decades. Monteiro has taken on more responsibilities in his lab, managing projects and a team, which has increased his stress levels. He balances work with family life and maintains his fitness through crossfit, while also engaging in agriculture with his family.