Protein Composition of Nasal Secretion During Respiratory Virus Infection

Abstract

Summary During the latter portion of upper respiratory illness induced with Coxsackie A-21 virus, there was a rise in total protein concentration and an increase in the frequency with which several plasma proteins were identified in nasal secretions. These changes in protein were independent of the presence of guaiac positive material in the nasal secretion specimens. Concentrations of γ A globulin before and during infection were higher in nasal secretion, in relation to the total protein, than are found in plasma, but antibody titers against Coxsackie A-21 in these secretions were negligible for up to 17 days following inoculation. The enhanced excretion of γ A globulin in nasal secretion during infection, therefore, probably did not contribute significantly to the clinical recovery of these initially antibody-free volunteers.