Fig. 8: Higher affinity benzenesulfonamides inhibit N. parisii infection.

A–C, E–G, I–K N. parisii spores were incubated with the indicated benzenesulfonamides at different concentrations for 1 h. L1 stage C. elegans either without spore or mixed with the treated spores were cultured for four days. Worms were then fixed and stained with DY96. Effect of the indicated benzenesulfonamides at 15 µM (A–C), 60 µM (E–G) or 100 µM (I–K) on the percentage of worms with embryos in uninfected worms (A, E, I), infected worms (B, F, J) and the percentage of worms with newly formed spores (C, F, K). N. parisii spores were incubated with 15 µM (D) 60 µM (H) and 100 µM (L) compound for 24 h and stained with Sytox Green and Calcofluor White M2R. The percentage of spores that showed Sytox Green staining. n = 3, N = ≥ 100 worms (A–C, E–G, I–K) or N = ≥ 100 spores (D, H, L) counted per biological replicate). The P values were determined by one-way ANOVA with post hoc test. Means ± SD (horizontal bars) are shown. (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001, ns means not significant).