High-resolution phage-host assignment through key proteins using large language models - PubMed
3 hours ago
- #phage-host assignment
- #large language models
- #microbiome therapies
- VirHost Hunter framework uses phage tails and lysins for high-resolution host assignment without full genomes.
- Utilizes Protein Language Models and Vision Transformers to capture protein functional homology, improving prediction accuracy.
- Outperforms existing methods in assigning phage hosts, doubling assignments and expanding taxonomic reach.
- Reveals uncharacterized phages targeting gut bacteria like Akkermansia and Prevotella.
- Establishes a gut phage lysin database, enabling synthesis of lysins targeting specific bacteria, such as obesity-promoting ones.
- Authors from BGI Research and Shenzhen University have filed a patent for the host specificity prediction algorithm.