Claude Science tackles deadly scorpion stings by designing protein binders from scratch
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Anthropic's Claude, operating within its Claude Science environment, autonomously designed protein binders to target deadly scorpion neurotoxins. These toxins are responsible for over 3,250 deaths annually. After an initial prompt, the AI worked independently for 24 hours before researchers provided further instructions. Claude generated nearly 319,000 designs targeting five specific toxins from four scorpion species. The team selected 180 candidates and added 31 more for laboratory testing. Out of 211 tested designs, 17 met the criteria for effective binding, with two showing extremely tight affinity for a toxin from the Mexican scorpion. While these binders appear to dock at the same site as known neutralizing antibodies, their efficacy as antivenom has not yet been tested.
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