Custom Viruses Are on the Way—And Scientists Are Already Printing Them for You

Here’s what you’ll learn in this story:Researchers have found a way to make synthetic viruses that can kill bacteria. Using an AI model trained on bacteria-targeting virus genomes, the scientists proved they could use chemically synthesized viruses to eradicate E. coli bacterial cells. This type of synthetic technique might be used to create simple cells with useful applications in the future, scientists say. Viruses are so simple in their structure, they may not even qualify as living things. Given their superior ability to take over cells, scientists are now using virus genomes—the genetic instruction set that drives them—to design chemically printed killing machines that wipe out bacteria.