The subclasses Cer(d18:0/24:1), Cer(d18:1/24:1), and Cer(d18:1/22:0) were shown to be increased by 48-, 40-, and 33-fold, respectively, in infected plasma samples and to 116-, 91- and 50-fold, respectively, in plasma samples with respiratory distress. This evidence concerns the gene CBLN1 and Respiratory distress.