MedIndia, June 29, 2007 US researchers are conducting a study to understand the mechanism by which cells grow and cancer develops, and they are using the bacterial pathogen Listeria Monocytogenes in their project. The research team, which includes University of Central Florida Microbiology Professor Keith Ireton, had recently found that a Listeria protein called InlB induces internalization and degradation of a human receptor known as Met, which has been implicated in the development of some cancers.  Ireton worked with Lisa A. Elferink of the University of Texas Medical Branch, who led the study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry this month. Read more ...  They found that the ability of InlB to induce Met internalization and degradation requires a human protein called Cbl.  The researchers feel that the knowledge of how to control Cbl may lead to the development of drugs that induce the destruction of Met, and are useful in treating Met-related cancers.  http://www.medindia.net/news/Study-of-Bacterial-Pathogen-may-Give-Insight-to-Cancer-Development-22789-1.htm