Fluorescent labeling reliably identifies Chlamydia trachomatis in living human endometrial cells and rapidly and accurately quantifies chlamydial inclusion forming units

Chlamydia replication requires host lipid acquisition, allowing flow cytometry to identify Chlamydia-infected cells that accumulated fluorescent Golgi-specific lipid. Herein, we describe modifications to currently available methods that allow precise differentiation between uninfected and Chlamydia trachomatis-infected human endometrial cells and rapidly and accurately quantify chlamydial inclusion forming units. •Chlamydia trachomatis replication requires acquisition of host lipids.•Flow cytometry is used to detect Chlamydia-infected cells accruing fluorescent ceramide.•By modifying this method, we identified C. trachomatis-infected human endometrial cells.•This modification also allowed precise calculation of chlamydial inclusion forming units.•Modified method should expedite phenotypic evaluation of C. trachomatis-infected cells.