SALMONELLA-TYPHIMURIUM DISPLAYS NORMAL INVASION OF MICE WITH DEFECTIVE EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR RECEPTORS

The role of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor in cell invasio n by Salmonella typhimurium was examined in vitro and in vivo by using waved-2 mice which express an EGF receptor with reduced kinase activi ty. S. typhimurium invaded fibroblasts from waved-2 mice as efficientl y as fibroblasts from wild-type control animals. In vivo, S. typhimuri um both invaded the gastrointestinal tract and penetrated through to t he spleen of waved-2 mice. Our studies suggest that the EGF receptor h as only a limited role, if any, in cell invasion by S. typhimurium.