Transgenic Tobacco Plants Expressing Synthetic Peptides: A Functional and Structural Analysis for Pathogen Resistance

The emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens poses a significant threat to human health and agriculture. Current antimicrobial strategies against phytopathogens are often ineffective, failing to ensure food security while contributing to environmental pollution. Synthetic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a promising alternative due to their broad-spectrum activity and potential for recombinant production. In this study, we evaluated the antibacterial efficacy of two synthetic peptides, VR18 and KG18, against phytopathogens. Both peptides demonstrated selective affinity for bacterial membranes and were non-toxic and non-allergenic. Using solution-state NMR, we elucidated their structural-functional role in bacterial membrane disruption. Transgenic expressions of VR18 and KG18 in Nicotiana tabacum conferred resistance against Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci, a major phytopathogen, without disrupting the plant’s stress responses or metabolic processes. These findings highlight the potential of AMPs as an environmentally sustainable, in vivo alternative to conventional antimicrobials in agriculture, paving the way for broader applications in combating phytopathogens.