Figure 5

EGFR is essential for development of chlamydial inclusion post-bacterial entry. (A-D) HeLa cells were infected with C. trachomatis for 24 h. In panels B-D, EGFR inhibitor Erlotinib was added at 2.5, 5 and 18 hpi, respectively. Under all conditions the total time for C. trachomatis infection was 24 h followed by fixing, and processing for confocal microscopy. F-actin was detected with Alexa Fluor 488-phalloidin (green) and chlamydial inclusions were detected using anti-chlamydial LPS antibody (red). Well-developed C. trachomatis inclusions were observed in the DMSO treated cells (A) and in cells treated with Erlotinib at 18 hpi (D); while incomplete inclusion development and bacterial aggregates were observed in cells treated with Erlotinib at 2.5 hpi (B) and 5 hpi (C). F-actin staining of HeLa cells with Erlotinib treatment but without C. trachomatis infection is shown in Additional file 2: Figure S12. Scale bar - 10 μm.