have created a virtual library of thousands of “command sentences” for cells using machine learning. These “sentences” are based on combinations of “words” that direct engineered immune cells to find and continuously eliminate cancer cells., is the first time that advanced computational techniques have been applied to a field that has traditionally progressed through trial-and-error experimentation and the use of pre-existing molecules rather than synthetic ones to engineer cells.
Putting the right receptor into a type of immune cell called a T cell can reprogram it to recognize and kill cancer cells. These so-called chimeric antigen receptors have been effective against some cancers but not others. The team believed that by combining these “words” in different ways, they could generate a receptor that would enable the CAR-T cells to finish the job without taking a break. They made a library of nearly 2,400 randomly combined command sentences and tested hundreds of them in T cells to see how effective they were at striking leukemia.Next, Daniels partnered with computational biologist Simone Bianco, Ph.D.
The researchers believe this approach will yield cell therapies for autoimmunity, regenerative medicine, and other applications. Daniels is interested in designing self-renewing stem cells to eliminate the need for donated blood.
😲 WOW, in a very broad sense, science just invented real 'magic spells'. That's pretty cool to think about.
Computer Science / Machine Learning meets Cellular Engineering