(MENAFN) Australian researchers have introduced a groundbreaking "biological artificial intelligence (AI)" system aimed at significantly speeding up the drug discovery process.

According to a recent announcement by the University of Sydney, which spearheaded the research, this cutting-edge platform enables the rapid generation and refinement of molecules with novel or improved capabilities directly within mammalian cells. The breakthrough holds promise for advancing gene therapies and next-generation pharmaceuticals.

Named PROTEUS (PROTein Evolution Using Selection), the technology marks a major advance in molecular engineering. It allows proteins to evolve inside mammalian cells—a feat that had previously only been possible in bacterial systems. Scientists explained that this approach replicates and accelerates natural selection, slashing development timelines from years to mere weeks.

"What is new about our work is that directed evolution primarily works in bacterial cells, whereas PROTEUS can evolve molecules in mammal cells," said the study's co-senior author Greg Neely from the University of Sydney.

The research, conducted by the University of Sydney's Charles Perkins Center in collaboration with the Centenary Institute, has made the PROTEUS system open source. This move is intended to foster global collaboration and drive the rapid advancement of high-performance enzymes, cutting-edge molecular tools, and next-level therapeutics, including enhanced gene-editing technologies and mRNA-based treatments.

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