> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.biohub.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Get Started with ESM Models

> Set up the esm Python package and choose from ESMC, ESMFold2, SAEs, or ESM3 to begin fine-tuning or working with state-of-the-art biological AI models.

## Introduction

The Quickstart shows how to set up the ESM models by installing the `esm` python package. Once the
`esm` package is set up, you can choose from ESMC, ESMFold2, the ESMC sparse autoencoders (SAEs) or
ESM3 to begin fine tuning or working with the model.

## Quickstart guide

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="ESMC">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Install the `esm` Python package">
        ```python theme={null}
        pip install esm
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step title="Import the necessary libraries">
        ```python theme={null}
        from esm.sdk.forge import ESMCForgeInferenceClient
        from esm.sdk import client
        from esm.sdk.api import ESMProtein, ESMProteinError, LogitsConfig, LogitsOutput
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step title="Create an API key">
        [Generate an API key](https://biohub.ai/developer-console/api-keys) and add it to your
        Biohub account. This API key manages your access to credits and tokens, and the term API
        key/token is often used interchangeably within documentation.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Connect to the Biohub API">
        Call the appropriate ESM client with the selected model of choice and replace
        `<your API token>` with your token name.

        ```python theme={null}
        client = ESMCForgeInferenceClient(model="esmc-6b-2024-12", url="https://biohub.ai", token="<your API token>")
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step title="Run your inference">
        Now you are ready to use your model. For examples of specific use cases or to append an SAE
        onto your ESMC model, check out our [Tutorials](/learn/tutorials/esmc).
        To embed a sequence collection, use [Embed multiple sequences with ESMC](/learn/tutorials/esmc/batch-embed-esmc).
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="ESMFold2">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Install the `esm` Python package">
        ```python theme={null}
        pip install esm
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step title="Import the necessary libraries">
        ```python theme={null}
        from esm.sdk.forge import SequenceStructureForgeInferenceClient
        from esm.sdk import client
        from esm.sdk.api import ESMProtein, ESMProteinError, LogitsConfig, LogitsOutput
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step title="Create an API key">
        [Generate an API key](https://biohub.ai/developer-console/api-keys) and add it to your
        Biohub account. This API key manages your access to credits and tokens, and the term API
        key/token is often used interchangeably within documentation.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Connect to the Biohub API">
        Call the appropriate ESM client with the selected model of choice and replace
        `<your API token>` with your token name.

        ```python theme={null}
        client = SequenceStructureForgeInferenceClient(model="esmfold2-fast-2026-05", url="https://biohub.ai", token="<your API token>")
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step title="Run your inference">
        Now you are ready to use your model. For examples of specific use cases, check out our
        [Tutorials](/learn/tutorials/esmfold2).
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="ESM3">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Install the `esm` Python package">
        ```python theme={null}
        pip install esm
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step title="Import the necessary libraries">
        ```python theme={null}
        from esm.sdk.forge import ESM3ForgeInferenceClient
        from esm.sdk import client
        from esm.sdk.api import ESMProtein, ESMProteinError, LogitsConfig, LogitsOutput
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step title="Create an API key">
        [Generate an API key](https://biohub.ai/developer-console/api-keys) and add it to your
        Biohub account. This API key manages your access to credits and tokens, and the term API
        key/token is often used interchangeably within documentation.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Connect to the Biohub API">
        Call the ESM client and replace `<your API token>` with your token name.

        ```python theme={null}
        client = ESM3ForgeInferenceClient(model="esm3-open-2024-03", url="https://biohub.ai", token="<your API token>")
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step title="Run your inference">
        Now you are ready to use your model. For examples of generating novel proteins with ESM3,
        check out our [Tutorials](/learn/tutorials/esm3).
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Use Biohub from an AI assistant

Connect ChatGPT, Codex, Claude, or Cursor to Biohub MCP at `https://biohub.ai/mcp` to search the ESM Atlas and view protein structures in chat.
It needs no API key or sign-in.

<Card title="Biohub MCP quickstart" icon="plug" href="/biohub-mcp/quickstart" horizontal>
  Add the server to your AI client and run your first ESM Atlas search.
</Card>