Researchers demonstrated AI systems capable of designing complete bacteriophage genomes de novo, opening a path toward rapid, in silico creation of therapeutic phages. The work highlights potential clinical benefits—custom phage therapies for antibiotic‑resistant infections—but also surfaces dual‑use and biosecurity concerns about the ease of creating viral genomes without natural templates. Authors and commentators stressed the need for governance and technical safeguards, such as sequence‑screening and access controls, alongside the scientific advance. The demonstration shows AI’s power to accelerate design cycles in synthetic virology but prompts calls for community standards and oversight to prevent misuse. Biotech companies and policy makers should weigh how to enable beneficial phage‑engineering programs while embedding sequence‑safety checks and responsible‑research practices into design platforms.
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