Mapping Biomolecular Interactions in 3D with AI
Accelerating antiviral discovery
through advanced AI
Interactys-AI
NEQ. 2281724825
Interactys-AI in the News
Following the publication of our article in Viruses, titled “AI-Powered Identification of Human Cell Surface Protein Interactors of the Hemagglutinin Glycoprotein of High-Pandemic-Risk H5N1 Influenza Virus,” our work garnered significant attention from major news outlets in Québec.
The study details the identification of human cell-surface proteins that interact with the hemagglutinin (HA) protein of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza. This research is a crucial step toward understanding how this virus may adapt to human infection and the role of AI in structural biology in preventing such transmission.
As a result, our findings were prominently featured by several major French-language media organizations, including La Presse, L’Actualité, and TVA Nouvelles. This coverage underscores the importance of AI-driven structural biology in enhancing pandemic preparedness.
Featured TV report (TVA Nouvelles)
“Grippe aviaire : une percée majeure pour freiner une possible transmission humaine”
TVA Nouvelles, January 9, 2026
What is Interactys-AI?
Interactys-AI is an emerging biotechnology company leveraging advanced AI to map 3D virus-host protein interactions, most particularly the surface interactome. By detailing complex infection mechanisms, the platform accelerates the design of targeted antiviral molecules to combat current infections and proactively mitigate future pandemics.
On January 22, 2026, Interactys-AI was officially incorporated under the Registre des entreprises du Québec (REQ). Being its founder, I now serve as the company's CEO. In addition to developing advanced AI tools for modeling proteins, protein complexes, and interaction networks, Interactys-AI provides specialized expertise to researchers to accelerate scientific discovery.
The Interactys-AI Pipeline
Interactys-AI: An AI-based Platform to Map Virus-Host Protein Interactions and Repurpose Drugs for Antiviral Discovery
by Christian Poitras, Nathalie Grandvaux, Benoit Coulombe
Interactions between viral surface antigens and host cell surface receptors are central to viral entry and infection. Disrupting these specific molecular interactions represents a rational strategy for antiviral intervention. Leveraging recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI), particularly AlphaFold 3 (AF3), we developed “Interactys-AI”, a computational platform designed to systematically identify virus–host protein–protein interactions (PPIs) and to accelerate antiviral drug discovery through host-directed drug repurposing.
Interactys-AI integrates large-scale AF3-based PPI screening, quantitative interface scoring, literature- and database-driven drug repurposing, and AI-based modeling of drug-mediated interaction interference. Importantly, this approach is applicable not only to circulating human pathogens but also to zoonotic viruses with high pandemic potential, enabling pre-emptive antiviral preparedness. As a proof of concept, we applied Interactys-AI to the avian influenza A (H5N1) virus, identifying host cell surface interactors of hemagglutinin and highlighting clinically relevant drug repurposing opportunities. By combining structural AI with interactomics and translational insight, Interactys-AI provides an open and scalable framework to accelerate antiviral discovery and pandemic readiness.
Our Key Publications
Fernandes MGF, Pinard M, Sokullu E, Gagnon JF, Calon F, Coulombe B, Consortium pour l’identification précoce de la maladie d’Alzheimer (CIMA-Q), Brouillette J. Differences in blood levels of neuroligin-derived peptides in a cohort for early detection of Alzheimer's disease. 2026 Journal of Gerontology: Biological Sciences.
Poitras C, Coulombe B. AI-Powered Identification of Human Cell Surface Protein Interactors of the Hemagglutinin Glycoprotein of High-Pandemic-Risk H5N1 Influenza Virus. 2025 Viruses. In press - https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/12/1638
Moursli Y, Faubert D, Grou C, Coulombe B. Discovery and characterization of a pancreatic β cell subpopulation expressing an unknown surface epitope through single cell proteomics. 2025 bioRxiv. https://lnkd.in/e8GDAs5i
Moursli Y, Poitras C, Coulombe B. Investigating pancreatic β cell membrane epitopes using unbiased cell-based Fab-phage display. bioRxiv, 2025.03.29.645157; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.03.29.645157.
Service Offering (Publication-Level Research Support)
Interactys-AI provides advanced, AI-driven structural biology services designed to support high-impact scientific publications, translational research, and competitive funding applications.
Our expertise includes:
- Identification and mapping of protein–protein interactions
Using an advanced, customized implementation of AlphaFold 3, we model and analyze protein–protein interaction networks with a focus on biological relevance and mechanistic insight.
- Assessment of drug interference with protein–protein interactions
Structural characterization of how small molecules, peptides, or biologics may disrupt or modulate protein–protein interfaces, supporting drug repurposing, target validation, and mechanism-of-action studies.
- High-confidence structural modeling of proteins and complexes
Generation of detailed structural models for individual proteins and multi-component complexes, suitable for publication, grant proposals, and downstream experimental design.
- Scientific collaborations and funding applications
Active participation in collaborative research projects, including conceptual input, structural analyses, and figure generation in support of grant submissions and consortium-based funding initiatives.
About Benoit Coulombe
Benoit Coulombe, PhD, spent most of his carreer as a molecular biology and biochemistry professor at the Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM) affiliated to the University of Montreal. He is now retired and devotes his time to the creation of the biotechnology company Interactys-AI. Pr. Coulombe has published 109 scientific articles so far (totalling nearly 9000 citations) and was among the pioneers in applying AI to protein interactomes (see Jeronimo et al 2007). He is the founder and CEO of Interactys-AI.