Rationally designed antimicrobial peptides with high selectivity and efficiency against phytopathogenic Ralstonia...

Ralstonia solanacearum, the causative agent of bacterial wilt, poses a global threat to agriculture, necessitating urgent and sustainable solutions as traditional methods lose efficacy. This study developed WRF-13, a synthetic antimicrobial peptide (AMP) designed to mimic natural AMPs, exhibiting potent antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity with high specificity against R. solanacearum. Mechanistic studies, including microscopy and computational analyses, demonstrated that WRF-13 disrupts the bacterial membrane. WRF-13 remained stable across a wide pH (5-8) and temperature (25-50 °C) range, essential for field applications, and showed no detectable toxicity to mammalian or plant cells at elevated concentrations. Greenhouse trials confirmed its efficacy in reducing bacterial wilt severity up to 65 %, highlighting its potential to protect crops from R. solanacearum infection. Overall, this study highlights WRF-13 as a targeted solution for managing bacterial wilt and advancing sustainable agriculture.