The acute phase of viral infection was also characterised by peak influxes of lymphocytes and neutrophils into BAL fluid as well as IFNα, the neutrophil chemoattractant KC (CXCL1) and IL-12 p70, which declined by day 14 p.i. The neutrophil response in particular was of interest, as these cells had not return to baseline levels by day 14 when virus had been cleared, and began to increase again by day 14. This evidence concerns the gene CXCL1 and viral infectious disease.