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.