We showed that EGFR activation occurred in HBMEC as early as 15 min after infection with meningitic E. coli, while our real-time PCR analysis revealed that the mRNA level of HB-EGF was up-regulated at 60 min after infection, implying that EGFR activation in response to meningitic E. coli may occur via two mechanisms, comprising an early activation (perhaps representing a ligand-independent activation) and a late ligand-dependent activation involving HB-EGF. This evidence concerns the gene HBEGF and infection.