Journal: Science / Year: 2026 Title: Generative design of bacteriophages with genome language models. Authors: Samuel H King / Claudia L Driscoll / David B Li / Daniel Guo / Aditi T Merchant / Garyk Brixi / Max E Wilkinson / Brian L Hie / Abstract: Many important biological functions arise not from single genes but from complex interactions encoded by entire genomes. We report the first generative design of complete bacteriophage genomes using ...Many important biological functions arise not from single genes but from complex interactions encoded by entire genomes. We report the first generative design of complete bacteriophage genomes using genome language models. We generated viable bacteriophages with target host tropism, using the phage ΦX174 as our design template. Experimental testing yielded 16 phages with diverse fitness profiles in laboratory conditions. Cryo-electron microscopy confirmed that a generated phage utilizes an evolutionarily distant DNA packaging protein in its capsid. A cocktail of generated phages rapidly overcomes ΦX174-resistant strains, demonstrating a path toward artificial intelligence-generated phage therapies against rapidly evolving bacterial pathogens. This work provides a blueprint for the design of diverse synthetic bacteriophages and useful biological systems at the genome scale.
History
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Jun 1, 2026
Deposition site: RCSB / Processing site: RCSB
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Mass: 2822.318 Da / Num. of mol.: 1 Source method: isolated from a genetically manipulated source Source: (gene. exp.) Sinsheimervirus / Production host: Escherichia coli C (bacteria)
#2: Protein
CapsidproteinF
Mass: 48543.477 Da / Num. of mol.: 1 Source method: isolated from a genetically manipulated source Source: (gene. exp.) Sinsheimervirus / Production host: Escherichia coli C (bacteria)
#3: Protein
MajorspikeproteinG
Mass: 19046.637 Da / Num. of mol.: 1 Source method: isolated from a genetically manipulated source Source: (gene. exp.) Sinsheimervirus / Production host: Escherichia coli C (bacteria)
Has protein modification
N
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Experimental details
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Experiment
Experiment
Method: ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
EM experiment
Aggregation state: PARTICLE / 3D reconstruction method: single particle reconstruction
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Sample preparation
Component
Name: synthetic construct / Type: VIRUS / Details: Purified from E. coli culture / Entity ID: all / Source: RECOMBINANT
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