UPD Chemists Create AI Tool to Predict Antibacterial Peptides

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By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

ISCAPE helps experimentalists predict whether a peptide can kill or inhibit the growth of the bacterium Escherichia coli. (Photo credit: Salas et. al., 2026)

As antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to make traditional antibiotics less effective worldwide, the search for new antibacterial treatments has become increasingly urgent. One promising solution is antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), small molecules that can kill bacteria. To help accelerate their discovery, researchers at the University of the Philippines Diliman – College of Science (UPD-CS) have developed an AI tool designed to accelerate the discovery of new antibacterial peptides.

Newsletter: UP Study Identifies Opportunities and Challenges for Advanced DNA Technology in SEA Forensics

[THIS IS A PRESS RELEASE]

By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Massively parallel sequencing (MPS) is transforming the way humans are identified. (Photo credit: Christian Estrella)

Massively parallel sequencing (MPS) has transformed forensic DNA analysis by allowing scientists to examine multiple DNA markers at the same time and in much greater detail than older methods. Even so, MPS is still not widely used in Southeast Asian countries. Researchers from the University of the Philippines Diliman – College of Science’s Natural Sciences Research Institute (UPD-CS NSRI) reviewed the use of MPS in forensic DNA laboratories across the region to identify the key challenges to its adoption.