SOUTH DAKOTA: SDSU to Combat Crop Disease, Biofilms in New NSF-backed Project

Microbes are tiny organisms that are far too small to see with the naked eye, but they play a big role in a variety of natural processes. Researchers harness microbes for useful processes, like fermentation, but these microscopic organisms can also be harmful.

In a new National Science Foundation-backed project, researchers from South Dakota State University, South Dakota Mines and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, will neutralize harmful microbes by harnessing the power of bioactive molecules. The four-year project, led by SDSU associate professor Nicholas Butzin, will leverage artificial intelligence tools to accelerate the discovery of these molecules.