Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are essential components of cell communication pathways utilized from the embryonic to adult stages of life. These transmembrane receptors bind polypeptide ligands, such as growth factors, inducing signalling cascades that control cellular processes such as proliferation, survival, differentiation, motility and inflammation. Many viruses have acquired homologs of growth factors encoded by the hosts that they infect. Production of growth factors during infection allows viruses to exploit RTKs for entry and replication in cells, as well as for host and environmental dissemination. This review describes the genetic diversity amongst virus-derived growth factors and the mechanisms by which RTK exploitation enhances virus survival, then highlights how viral ligands can be used to further understanding of RTK signalling and function during embryogenesis, homeostasis and disease scenarios.

受体酪氨酸激酶（RTK）是从胚胎到成年阶段利用的细胞通讯途径的重要组成部分。这些跨膜受体结合多肽配体，例如生长因子，诱导控制细胞过程如增殖，存活，分化，运动性和炎症的信号级联反应。许多病毒已经获得了由其感染的宿主编码的生长因子的同源物。感染期间生长因子的产生使病毒能够利用RTK在细胞中进入和复制以及宿主和环境传播。这篇综述描述了病毒衍生的生长因子之间的遗传多样性，以及利用RTK增强病毒存活率的机制，