The proteomics findings suggest that the changes in plasma proteins in response to NE are driven by the host’s intensified efforts to counteract the infection, demonstrating a.o. activation of ECM-degrading proteases (MMP2, TIMP2), acute phase response (HPS5, CP, EXFABP, TF, VNN) and notable reduction in basement membrane (BM) and ECM-related peptides (PLOD2, POSTN, COL1A1/2, HSPG2, NID2) detected in the blood of NE-affected birds. The gene discussed is MMP2; the disease is infection.