UK initiative to explore using AI to address antimicrobial resistance

News brief

Scientist holding red pill — scanrail / iStock

British drugmaker GSK and the Fleming Initiative this week announced six new "Grand Challenge" research projects aimed at slowing the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Among the projects is an effort that will harness artificial intelligence (AI) to speed discovery of new antibiotics for gram-negative bacteria, which represent a particularly challenging target for antibiotic development. Scientists at Imperial College London will partner with scientists from GSK and Agilent Technologies to generate novel data sets on diverse molecules and create AI models that can be shared with other scientists to accelerate development of novel antibiotics for multidrug-resistant gram-negative infections.

"Together, with scaled datasets, emerging drug modalities and AI-driven models, we will open up new approaches for the discovery of novel antibiotics as well as anticipate and outpace the development of resistance to transform the treatment and prevention of serious infections," GSK Chief Scientific Officer Tony Wood, PhD, said in an Imperial College press release.

A 'beacon' for the global scientific community

Launched in 2024 with a pledge of £45 million (US $58.8 million) from GSK, the Fleming Initiative is a collaboration between Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust to improve understanding of how drug-resistant infections are transmitted, develop better AMR surveillance methods, and identify new treatments and interventions.

A second program will use disease surveillance and environmental data to create AI models that predict how drug-resistant organisms emerge and spread. Other programs, all of which are slated to begin in 2026, include an effort to accelerate discovery of new drugs for fungal infections, an innovative clinical trial to improve how and when antibiotics are prescribed, and a project to model the immune response to infection to stimulate research into bacteria-targeting vaccines.

"Today, in the shadow of 80 years since the Nobel prize for the discovery of penicillin, we're delighted to see this research progress," said Lord Ara Darzi, executive chair of the Fleming Initiative. "We hope this research will be a beacon for the global scientific community and highlight the urgent need for collaborative efforts to tackle the rising global threat of antimicrobial resistance."

New data show rising incidence of serious drug-resistant infections in Europe

News brief

Chris Dall, MA

Illustration of bacteria in bloodstream — Raycat / iStock

Europe is seeing an increase in bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by difficult-to-treat drug-resistant bacteria, according to data published this week by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

The data from the latest EARS-Net (European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network) report, which covers 30 European Union/European Economic Activity (EU/EEA) countries, show that the estimated total incidence of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae BSIs rose by 61% from 2019 (the baseline year) through 2024, while the incidence of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli BSIs increased by 5.9%.

The EU has set 2030 target reductions of 5% and 10% for the two pathogens, respectively, but ECDC says it appears unlikely those targets will be met.

BSIs caused by other bug-drug combinations under EARS-Net surveillance also saw increases, including carbapenem-resistant E coli and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium. But one bright spot was that incidence of BSIs caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus fell by 20.4% from 2019 levels. As with prior EARS-Net reports, higher rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) were reported by countries in southern, central, and eastern Europe.

Not just a medical issue

The ECDC estimates AMR causes more than 35,000 deaths a year in EU/EEA countries. The organization attributes the rise in difficult-to-treat infections to an aging and vulnerable population with chronic health issues, cross-border transmission of resistant pathogens, persistent high antibiotic use combined with gaps in infection prevention and control, and a shortage of novel antibiotics.

"Antimicrobial resistance is not just a medical issue—it's a societal one," Diamantas Plachouras, MD, PhD, head of the ECDC's Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare-Associated Infections division, said in a press release. "We must ensure that no one in Europe is left without an effective treatment option."

CDC: 31 infants now sickened with botulism in formula-related outbreak

News brief

Stephanie Soucheray, MA

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed eight new cases of infant botulism in the outbreak tied to powdered ByHeart Whole Nutrition infant formula, bringing the number of infections to 31 in 15 states, an increase of two states since the last update.

The CDC warned parents to seek immediate medical care if their infant consumed ByHeart formula and then developed poor feeding, loss of head control, difficulty swallowing, and decreased facial expressions.

Symptoms of infant botulism can take as long as several weeks to develop, so parents should remain vigilant.

“Symptoms of infant botulism can take as long as several weeks to develop, so parents should remain vigilant if they used ByHeart Whole Nutrition infant formula,” the CDC said. For 27 cases with illness onset information available, illnesses started on dates ranging from August 9 to November 13, 2025, the CDC said.

All patients hospitalized

All 31 patients have required hospitalization, So far, Texas has reported the most cases, with six, while California has four cases, and Oregon and Arizona each have three. The two new states added in this update are Idaho and Maine.

ByHeart infant formula products account for roughly 1% of all infant formula sold in the United States. The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration recommend that parents and caregivers stop using any ByHeart infant formula products immediately.

CWD encroaches on northeastern North Carolina with detection in Edgecombe County

News brief

Mary Van Beusekom, MS

White-tailed buck — Tidewater Teddy / Flickr cc

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been found in northeastern North Carolina for the first time with the discovery of an infected white-tailed buck in Edgecombe County, 92 miles from the nearest previous detection, in Cumberland County.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) said in a press release that the 3.5-year-old deer was harvested by a hunter in the eastern corner of Edgecombe County, a few miles from its border with Pitt and Martin counties.

"We are certainly not happy to learn that we may have a new CWD infected area in the northeastern part of the state," Chris Kreh, Game and Furbearer Program assistant chief, said in a news release on the preliminary test result earlier this month. "However, this is what our surveillance plan is designed to do—find areas where CWD is occurring, as early as possible, so we can minimize its impact."

The case is North Carolina's 35th since CWD was first detected in the state in 2022. Over the past 4 years, NCWRC has tested samples from nearly 3,000 deer in Edgecombe and neighboring counties.

Improper carcass disposal may spread disease

The commission said any related changes to hunting regulations would take effect during the 2026-27 hunting season.

We are certainly not happy to learn that we may have a new CWD infected area in the northeastern part of the state.

Chris Kreh

CWD is a neurologic disease that kills cervids such as deer, elk, and moose. It's caused by infectious misfolded proteins called prions, which are transmitted from animal to animal and through environmental contamination.

"Deer may appear healthy during early stages of infection, therefore, NCWRC stresses to hunters the importance of taking precautions when transporting or disposing of deer carcasses; improper disposal may lead to moving CWD to new locations," the release said.