Interaction of the antimicrobial peptides caerin 1.1 and aurein 1.2 with intact bacteria by 2H solid-state NMR

• Interaction of antimicrobial peptides with bacteria was studied in vivo by 2H NMR.
• Deuteration protocol for Bacillus subtilis membranes was established.
• Higher concentration of peptides is required to perturb membrane of B. subtilis.
• Perturbation of bacterial membranes depends on local peptide concentration.
• Action mechanism of antimicrobial peptides depends on cell wall composition.