AI model offers new hope for pandemic prevention by identifying hidden viral reservoirs

In a significant step forward for global health security, researchers at Washington State University (WSU) have developed a cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) model capable of identifying animal species that could harbor and spread viruses to humans. This advancement could become a vital tool in preventing future pandemics before they begin. The model, which was recently detailed in the journal Communications Biology, leverages machine learning to analyze both the traits of potential animal hosts and the genetic characteristics of viruses, focusing specifically on orthopoxviruses — the viral family that includes smallpox and mpox (formerly monkeypox). The researchers behind the model say its applications could extend far beyond orthopoxviruses, offering a scalable and adaptable framework for anticipating a broad spectrum of emerging zoonotic threats. Predicting the next spillover “Nearly three-quarters of emerging viruses that infect humans come from animals,” said Dr. Stephanie Seifert, a leading expert in viral emergence and cross-species transmission at WSU’s Paul...