Ap5A showed comparable antileishmanial efficacy with AmB.
A, E, F, and H, the viability of axenic promastigotes (A and F) and healthy BMDMs (E and H) treated with Ap5A and AmB was evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide reduction assay. B, pH sensitivity and temperature sensitivity of Ap5A (15 μm)-treated WT and LdHSP78+/−promastigotes were compared by determination of promastigote growth. C and G, Giemsa staining was performed to calculate the amastigote burden of BMDMs, infected with L. donovani for 24 h and treated with either Ap5A or AmB. A and D, the comparative sensitivity of WT, LdHSP78+/−, and resKO promastigotes and amastigotes for Ap5A treatment was analyzed to understand the specificity of Ap5A for LdHSP78. Each experimental set is representative of three samples, and error bars are mean ± S.D. Statistical significance was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance followed by Dunnett's multiple-comparison test.