Paper Title
Pr-1-Like Protein as a Potential Target for the Identification of Fusarium Oxysporum: An in-Silico Study

Abstract
Fusarium oxysporum remains one of the leading causes of economic losses and poor yields in crop plants; its detection is strained due to its presentation in various morphological and physiological forms. This research work sought to identify novel biomarkers for the harmonious detection of Fusarium oxysporum using in silico approaches. Experimentally validated anti-Fusarium oxysporum antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) were used to construct a profile against Fusarium oxysporum. The performance and physicochemical parameters of these peptides were predicted and the gene coding of Fusarium oxysporum receptor protein PR-1-like protein, Fpr1, was identified, translated and its model validated. The anti-Fusarium oxysporum AMPs and Fusarium oxysporum receptor protein 3-D structures with their docking interaction analysis were carried out. The utilization of the HMMER in silico tool identified novel anti-Fusarium oxysporum antimicrobial peptides that had a good performance in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. These AMPs also displayed good physicochemical properties and bound with greater affinity to Fusarium oxysporum protein receptor PR-1-like protein. The tendency of these AMPs to detect Fusarium oxysporum PR-1-like protein, Fpr1, a protein with precision would justify their use for the identification of the fungus. This study would enhance and facilitate the identification of Fusarium oxysporum to reduce the problems associated with poor crop yield, economic losses, and decreased nutritional values of plants to meet up with the growing population. Keywords - Antimicrobial Peptides; Fungicides; Biomarkers; Detection; Receptors, Food Abundance.