JERUSALEM, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Israeli researchers at Ben Gurion University (BGU) have created an AI-based tool to identify critical proteins that could unlock insights into human diseases, the university announced Tuesday.
The tool, called Weighted Graph Anomalous Node Detection (WGAND), uses methods similar to those that detect fraud in social networks to analyze how proteins interact in the body. Published in the journal GigaScience, the algorithm spots unusual proteins that connect heavily with others and play central roles in biological processes -- key to understanding health and disease.
In tests, WGAND successfully identified proteins linked to brain and heart disorders, as well as those involved in essential functions like nerve signaling and muscle movement. According to BGU, it performed more accurately than existing methods.
By combining expertise in biology and cybersecurity, the tool could lead to more targeted medical treatments and provide new insights into how the human body works. ■
