Targeted Amino Acid Substitutions in a Peptaibol Confer Activity against Fungal Plant Pathogens and Protect Host Tissues from Infection.

Fungal species belonging to the genus are commonly used as biocontrol agents against several crop pathogens. Among their secondary metabolites, peptaibols are helical, antimicrobial peptides, which are structurally stable even under extreme pH and temperature conditions. The promise of peptaibols as agrochemicals is, however, hampered by poor water solubility, which inhibits efficient delivery for practical use in crop protection.