Latest news with #WadhwaniSchoolofDataScienceandAI
India Today
2 days ago
- Health
- India Today
How viruses can help the fight against antibiotic resistance
Phage therapies are currently used only in compassionate cases, where all antibiotics have failed and the patient's condition is critical. () Phage therapy uses viruses that specifically infect bacteria India currently relies mostly on antibiotics for infections AI helps identify and analyse over 1.3 million viral genomes Antimicrobial resistance isn't just a silent pandemic â€' India bears one of the heaviest burdens globally. While the country continues its search for new antibiotics to combat the crisis, researchers are now turning to naturally-occurring viruses in the environment as a promising tool to attack and kill multi-drug-resistant bacteria. Karthik Anantharaman, a visiting professor at Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI at IIT Madras, is spearheading such a project in the US by studying the nature of viruses in their natural habitat to attack and kill bacteria, a process called phage therapy. "One approach is to create more antibiotics but this only postpones the problem. New antibiotics also can lead to new forms of resistance, creating a never-ending cycle. An alternative and promising solution is phage therapy, which uses viruses called bacteriophages (or simply phages) to kill specific bacteria," Dr. Anantharaman, who is also a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told FINDING VIRUSES THAT KILL BACTERIA Anantharaman and his team discovered that viruses have yearly cycles and can affect other organisms in the ecosystem. As part of their study, some viruses were found to carry genes they had taken from the organisms they infected, which helped them carry out important biological functions. The research team also put together over 1.3 million viral genomes â€' the largest collection of its kind so far. Lake Mendota in the US has been monitored consistently since the late 1800s (Photo: Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin–Madison) "In our lab, we are exploring how phages behave over time. We conducted a 20-year study of a single lake, using DNA sequencing and artificial intelligence (AI) to track how phage populations changed. By sequencing environmental DNA and using AI tools, we identified over 1.3 million viral genomes. This allowed us to see how viruses shift month to month, season to season, and year to year, and to predict their future behaviour," Dr. Anantharaman said. While phage therapy might seem like a relatively new concept to Indian populations and even the West who rely heavily on antibiotics, Anantharaman mentioned that the phenomenon of using viruses to kill bacteria has been used in countries like Russia, Poland, Ukraine, and Georgia for decades. VIRUSES AS ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANER "Our goal is twofold: to improve human health and environmental health. Just as phages (virus) can target harmful bacteria in the human body, they can also be used to clean polluted ecosystems," University of Wisconsin-Madison professor said. For example, if a lake turns black or emits a smell like rotten eggs, a sign of hydrogen sulfide produced by bacteria, phages can be used to selectively kill those bacteria and restore the lake's health. Anantharaman lab group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, US, pictured by Lake Mendota. Despite their promise, phage therapies are currently used only in compassionate cases, where all antibiotics have failed and the patient's condition is critical. HOW DO PHAGES OR VIRUSES WORK AGAINST BACTERIA? One major reason phages haven't entered mainstream treatment is that researchers still don't fully understand how they evolve over time. Consequently, there are no approved phage-based therapeutic products in India, the US, or Europe. But phages hold great promise, especially when used in combination with antibiotics. Here's how it works: when bacteria face antibiotics, they come under stress. Sometimes, this stress causes genetic changes that make them resistant. But in that process, bacteria may also become vulnerable to phages. So, using both antibiotics and phages together creates a powerful, complementary treatment strategy. In some cases, antibiotics work where phages don't and vice versa. Anantharaman lab member Patricia Tran sampling Lake Mendota, US. over frozen ice in the Winter. "One major advantage of phages is their precision. Unlike antibiotics, which kill both harmful and beneficial bacteria, phages target only one specific strain. If a person is infected with Pseudomonas, the phage used will kill only Pseudomonas, sparing the rest of the body's microbiome. That's a game-changer for preserving overall health during treatment," Anantharaman explained. Another surprising fact is that viruses are everywhere - even inside us. There are 10 to 100 times more viral particles in and on our bodies than human cells. These include many harmless phages that silently regulate bacterial populations. Phages are found in lakes, rivers, soil, oceans, and even in our intestines and on our skin. Anantharaman lab member Dinesh Kumar Kuppa Baskaran sampling Lake Mendota in the Summer. "In our lab, we use AI â€' both machine learning and deep learning â€' to rapidly identify phages from environmental samples. This process, which used to take years, now takes just a day. AI allows us to sift through millions of DNA sequences and pinpoint the viruses that can infect specific harmful bacteria," Anantharaman said. BARRIERS PERSIST However, awareness remains a major barrier. The medical community and industry are still focused on antibiotics. There's limited investment in phage therapy, and the necessary research infrastructure hasn't yet been built. For phage therapy to move forward, government support and academic research are essential. "Industry isn't currently interested in developing phage-based treatments â€' it's mostly up to institutions and public funding. But as the threat of antibiotic resistance grows, this is expected to change," Anantharaman opined. Phage therapy isn't just a scientific curiosity. It could be a major pillar of future medicine â€' if we choose to invest in it. Antimicrobial resistance isn't just a silent pandemic â€' India bears one of the heaviest burdens globally. While the country continues its search for new antibiotics to combat the crisis, researchers are now turning to naturally-occurring viruses in the environment as a promising tool to attack and kill multi-drug-resistant bacteria. Karthik Anantharaman, a visiting professor at Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI at IIT Madras, is spearheading such a project in the US by studying the nature of viruses in their natural habitat to attack and kill bacteria, a process called phage therapy. "One approach is to create more antibiotics but this only postpones the problem. New antibiotics also can lead to new forms of resistance, creating a never-ending cycle. An alternative and promising solution is phage therapy, which uses viruses called bacteriophages (or simply phages) to kill specific bacteria," Dr. Anantharaman, who is also a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told FINDING VIRUSES THAT KILL BACTERIA Anantharaman and his team discovered that viruses have yearly cycles and can affect other organisms in the ecosystem. As part of their study, some viruses were found to carry genes they had taken from the organisms they infected, which helped them carry out important biological functions. The research team also put together over 1.3 million viral genomes â€' the largest collection of its kind so far. Lake Mendota in the US has been monitored consistently since the late 1800s (Photo: Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin–Madison) "In our lab, we are exploring how phages behave over time. We conducted a 20-year study of a single lake, using DNA sequencing and artificial intelligence (AI) to track how phage populations changed. By sequencing environmental DNA and using AI tools, we identified over 1.3 million viral genomes. This allowed us to see how viruses shift month to month, season to season, and year to year, and to predict their future behaviour," Dr. Anantharaman said. While phage therapy might seem like a relatively new concept to Indian populations and even the West who rely heavily on antibiotics, Anantharaman mentioned that the phenomenon of using viruses to kill bacteria has been used in countries like Russia, Poland, Ukraine, and Georgia for decades. VIRUSES AS ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANER "Our goal is twofold: to improve human health and environmental health. Just as phages (virus) can target harmful bacteria in the human body, they can also be used to clean polluted ecosystems," University of Wisconsin-Madison professor said. For example, if a lake turns black or emits a smell like rotten eggs, a sign of hydrogen sulfide produced by bacteria, phages can be used to selectively kill those bacteria and restore the lake's health. Anantharaman lab group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, US, pictured by Lake Mendota. Despite their promise, phage therapies are currently used only in compassionate cases, where all antibiotics have failed and the patient's condition is critical. HOW DO PHAGES OR VIRUSES WORK AGAINST BACTERIA? One major reason phages haven't entered mainstream treatment is that researchers still don't fully understand how they evolve over time. Consequently, there are no approved phage-based therapeutic products in India, the US, or Europe. But phages hold great promise, especially when used in combination with antibiotics. Here's how it works: when bacteria face antibiotics, they come under stress. Sometimes, this stress causes genetic changes that make them resistant. But in that process, bacteria may also become vulnerable to phages. So, using both antibiotics and phages together creates a powerful, complementary treatment strategy. In some cases, antibiotics work where phages don't and vice versa. Anantharaman lab member Patricia Tran sampling Lake Mendota, US. over frozen ice in the Winter. "One major advantage of phages is their precision. Unlike antibiotics, which kill both harmful and beneficial bacteria, phages target only one specific strain. If a person is infected with Pseudomonas, the phage used will kill only Pseudomonas, sparing the rest of the body's microbiome. That's a game-changer for preserving overall health during treatment," Anantharaman explained. Another surprising fact is that viruses are everywhere - even inside us. There are 10 to 100 times more viral particles in and on our bodies than human cells. These include many harmless phages that silently regulate bacterial populations. Phages are found in lakes, rivers, soil, oceans, and even in our intestines and on our skin. Anantharaman lab member Dinesh Kumar Kuppa Baskaran sampling Lake Mendota in the Summer. "In our lab, we use AI â€' both machine learning and deep learning â€' to rapidly identify phages from environmental samples. This process, which used to take years, now takes just a day. AI allows us to sift through millions of DNA sequences and pinpoint the viruses that can infect specific harmful bacteria," Anantharaman said. BARRIERS PERSIST However, awareness remains a major barrier. The medical community and industry are still focused on antibiotics. There's limited investment in phage therapy, and the necessary research infrastructure hasn't yet been built. For phage therapy to move forward, government support and academic research are essential. "Industry isn't currently interested in developing phage-based treatments â€' it's mostly up to institutions and public funding. But as the threat of antibiotic resistance grows, this is expected to change," Anantharaman opined. Phage therapy isn't just a scientific curiosity. It could be a major pillar of future medicine â€' if we choose to invest in it. Join our WhatsApp Channel
The Hindu
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
IIT Madras calls for applications for B. Tech in AI
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras has invited applications for the second batch of students for B. Tech in AI programme. The course, with a strong industry connection and ranging from fundamental research in global tech companies to applied sectors such as manufacturing and healthcare, is being offered through the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI. Those who have qualified in JEE (advanced) can opt for the programme. As many as 50 students will be admitted to the programme, whose course code in IIT Madras is 412L: artificial intelligence and data analytics. Institute director V. Kamakoti said the course has a carefully evolved curriculum, aligned with both the industry and research community needs. Students will have academic flexibility, allowing them to tailor their learning journey through a wide range of electives. They have the option of learning the intricacies of speech and language technology and computer vision. They can also explore applications in control and detection and time-series analysis. The course focuses on application to real-world problems and fair and responsible AI. The core curriculum has been designed to provide a comprehensive foundation in AI and data analytics, covering a wide array of subjects. There will be foundational courses in linear algebra and calculus, specialised modules in machine learning, deep learning, generative AI, foundation models and reinforcement learning.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
IIT Madras opens admissions for BTech in AI to train future tech leaders
MUMBAI: IIT Madras is preparing to create global leaders in Artificial Intelligence through its in AI Programme , with admissions for the second batch commencing in the academic year 2025-26. The NIRF #1-ranked institute has meticulously developed this undergraduate programme to provide students with essential competencies and expertise. The BTech programme, constructed to emphasise both AI fundamentals and application development, features strong industry connections through internships and undergraduate research opportunities. Graduates can pursue careers ranging from fundamental research at global technology firms to applied roles in manufacturing and healthcare sectors. The Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI, which delivers this in AI course, strives to establish itself amongst the leading AI-focused educational institutions globally whilst providing guidance to government and policymakers on Data Science and AI policy matters. The programme, with course code 412L: Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics , will accept 50 students through JEE . Eligible candidates must have cleared JEE (Advanced) and can select this programme during JOSSA Counselling. Prof. V. Kamakoti , Director, IIT Madras, said, "AI and Data Analytics is an emerging area. This BTech course has a carefully evolved curriculum that is perfectly aligned with both the industry and research community needs. Many interesting challenges are in front of us and I am sure students shall immensely benefit by pursuing this course and shape their prosperous future." The programme offers substantial academic flexibility through various electives within and outside the department. Students can explore specialised areas such as Speech and Language Technology, Computer Vision, Applications in Control and Detection, and Time-Series Analysis based on their interests. Prof. B. Ravindran, Head, Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI, IIT Madras, said, "Artificial Intelligence is a transformative technology. It is going to be the defining technological development, perhaps for another generation to come. WSAI allows us to synergize all the different AI and Data Science activities. We are making sure the students know enough about the fundamentals of AI so that they can pick up things on their own if they want to get into a research career. " The curriculum aims to develop expertise across various AI and data analytics aspects, providing comprehensive exposure to industrial applications. It emphasises mathematical fundamentals, Data Science/AI/ML foundations, application development, and responsible design, incorporating interdisciplinary elements. Students must undertake courses from two core areas: traditional applications and system-oriented applications of Data Science and AI. The programme includes instruction on responsible design principles in AI. The programme focuses on practical problem-solving and ethical AI implementation. It teaches students to apply data analytics and AI techniques to real-world challenges whilst ensuring fair and responsible technology deployment. The core curriculum provides comprehensive training in AI and data analytics, including fundamental subjects like linear algebra and calculus, alongside specialised topics such as machine learning, deep learning, generative AI, foundation models and reinforcement learning.
India Today
03-05-2025
- India Today
Delhi schools to launch AI curriculum by IIT Madras for Classes 6-10 from May 8
Artificial Intelligence is going to become a part of classroom learning for students in Delhi. Starting May 8, an AI literacy-based curriculum called AI Samarth will be rolled out across Classes 6 to 10. The initiative is being spearheaded by the Central Square Foundation (CSF), in collaboration with the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI at IIT new framework is aimed at helping students between the ages of 11 and 14 gain a basic understanding of Artificial Intelligence -- not just how it works, but also how to use it safely, ethically, and meaningfully in real ON AI AWARENESS AND PRACTICAL USEThe AI Samarth framework focuses on building AI awareness through age-appropriate modules and encourages safe digital behaviour. It also introduces students to core AI concepts, how AI impacts their daily lives, and where it's used -- from apps to algorithms. More importantly, it dives into practical applications of AI and covers essential topics like ethics, bias, privacy, and accountability. These lessons will help students understand both the potential and the risks that come with using AI FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ALIKEThe programme doesn't stop at students. It's also designed to empower teachers by offering an open-source content stack and training modules that are accessible resources will be available in five languages -- Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Odia, and English -- to ensure wider access across various linguistic multilingual content stack will be released gradually over the next six months. The creators also plan to include more regional languages in the future so that the curriculum can reach students across different geographies and school DESIGN TO SUIT DIFFERENT SCHOOLSUnlike one-size-fits-all models, the AI Samarth curriculum is built to be flexible. Schools can customise the depth and pace of the content based on their institutional goals and the readiness of their students and a school has more advanced digital infrastructure or is just getting started, the curriculum can be adapted to CSF, 'The curriculum framework supports the development of a flexible, holistic curriculum designed to cater to diverse learning levels, allowing institutions to customise its depth and breadth based on local contexts, grade levels, institutional goals and the varying readiness of students and teachers in terms of their awareness, understanding and use of AI.'PART OF A LARGER AI LITERACY MOVEMENT IN INDIAThis step is part of a growing push to integrate AI education into school curricula across India, with a focus on digital citizenship and 21st-century AI becomes more integrated into daily life -- from how we shop to how we learn -- building awareness from a young age is seen as IIT Madras bringing in academic and technical expertise and CSF managing school-level implementation, the AI Samarth curriculum could set a model for other states to follow.
India Today
02-05-2025
- Science
- India Today
AI Samarth: New curriculum brings AI to classrooms across Delhi schools
A fresh curriculum for the education of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in school children will be introduced on May 8 in Delhi AI Samarth curriculum has been drafted for students between Classes 6 to 10. The Central Square Foundation (CSF) will launch it jointly with the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI at the Indian Institute of Technology, syllabus is designed for kids in the age range of 11 to 14. It will make them comprehend AI, the way it operates, and its application in real life. It will also impart the proper and secure usage of such strategy covers lessons not only for students but also for educators. The material will be put online and will contain training for usage. It will be in five languages initially - Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Odia, and English. The material will be rolled out in six months. Additional languages can be added narrated by CSF, the goal of the framework is to describe the fundamental concepts of AI and its influence on society. It will address issues including ethics, bias, privacy, and responsibility in AI content stack is an open-source application. Schools can use it in its current form or modify it to suit their requirements. The framework is designed to be adaptable, so that it can be applicable to various levels of learning and local this new initiative, the creators aim to introduce greater awareness about AI in schools all over the nation. They feel that students and educators alike should be equipped to utilise AI tools in the future.
