To understand the impact of EGFR signaling activation for the downstream inflammatory response during vaginal inflammatory response, antagonists AG1478 (EGFR), SD5978 (ERK1/2) and SB203580 (p38) were used to treat VK2/E6E7 vaginal epithelial cells 2 h prior to infection with SC5314. The gene discussed is MAPK3; the disease is infection.