AlphaFold in Zoonotic Diseases: Artificial Intelligence applied to Brucella spp.

Authors

  • Mayra Alejandra Saeteros Amorozo Universidad Regional Autónoma de los Andes, Ecuador
  • Mildre Mercedes Vidal del Río Universidad Regional Autónoma de los Andes, Ecuador
  • Raúl González Salas Universidad Regional Autónoma de los Andes, Ecuador

Keywords:

Brucella, AlphaFold, Artificial Intelligence, Therapeutic Targets, One Health

Abstract

Introduction: Artificial intelligence, especially AlphaFold, is transforming structural biology and research into zoonotic diseases such as brucellosis, caused by Brucella spp., a pathogen that threatens public health and livestock worldwide. Materials and methods: A qualitative and descriptive review was conducted by searching PubMed, SciELO, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar using the terms "Brucella," "AlphaFold," "AI," "Artificial Intelligence," "Drug Discovery," and "Virtual Screening," limited to English-language articles published between 2020 and 2025. Of the initial 26 publications, 16 were selected for rigorous analysis. Results: Three-dimensional models of Brucella proteins (BvrR, Omp25, Omp31) enabled epitope mapping and virtual screening for the development of multi-epitope mRNA drugs and vaccines targeting the type IV secretion system. Modeling WadA with AlphaFold clarified the lipopolysaccharide-associated virulence mechanisms. Furthermore, a multi-epitope antigen with high sensitivity and specificity for serological diagnosis was designed, overcoming the cross-reactivity limitations of conventional tests. Discussion: AlphaFold accelerates the prioritization of therapeutic targets and antigens by linking virulence factors with immunogenicity. However, limitations such as the lack of capture of allosteric phenomena and the dependence on deep multiple alignments remain, thus requiring preclinical and clinical experimental validations. Conclusions: The integration of AlphaFold and bioinformatics offers promising opportunities for the development of drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics against brucellosis within the One Health approach, although further in vitro and in vivo validations are essential.

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Published

2026-04-25

How to Cite

Saeteros Amorozo , M. A., Vidal del Río, M. M., & González Salas, R. (2026). AlphaFold in Zoonotic Diseases: Artificial Intelligence applied to Brucella spp. Maestro Y Sociedad, 23(2), 1334–1339. Retrieved from https://maestroysociedad.uo.edu.cu/index.php/MyS/article/view/7609

Issue

Vol. 23 No. 2 (2026)

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Artículos

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Copyright (c) 2026 Mayra Alejandra Saeteros Amorozo , Mildre Mercedes Vidal del Río, Raúl González Salas

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