Identification of an antifungal lipopeptide from <i>Bacillus amyloliquefaciens</i> HAU3 inhibiting the growth of <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> using preparative chromatography and 2D-NMR

Mycotoxin contamination in animal feed, predominantly driven by <i>Fusarium graminearum</i>, represents a persistent threat to livestock health and food chain integrity. Here, we report the isolation of a soil-derived <i>Bacillus amyloliquefaciens</i> HAU3, exhibiting potent and broad-spectrum antifungal activity alongside efficient biodegradation of zearalenone and its derivatives. Mechanistic dissection reveals that fengycin, the principal bioactive metabolite, compromises fungal membrane integrity and elicits intracellular oxidative stress, culminating in hyphal collapse. Genomic profiling uncovers a diverse repertoire of biosynthetic gene clusters underpinning secondary metabolite production. These findings establish strain HAU3 as a promising microbial chassis for the development of next-generation biocontrol strategies aimed at mitigating mycotoxin burden in agroecosystems.