title: The role of the epidermal growth factor receptor in microbial infections of the gastrointestinal tract.
abstract: The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) is a transmembrane glycoprotein with an intrinsic tyrosine kinase. Ligand-binding to the EGFr activates cell signaling, phosphorylates protein kinases, and rearranges cytoskeletal proteins - responses that resemble those induced by microbial attachment to cell surfaces, a process known to be mediated by host cell receptors in a number of cases. This article critically reviews the possible role played by the EGFr in microbial colonization, and discusses how modulation of the EGF-EGFr axis may affect infection of the gastrointestinal tract.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buret
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Gall
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hardin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D014780:Viruses / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D066246:ErbB Receptors