Abstract:
Introduction: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) with tropism for the respiratory tract epithelium,
causes an acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) accounting for 5-10% of all ARIs. Patients may be
asymptomatic, or exhibit symptoms ranging from mild upper respiratory tract symptoms to severe
bronchiolitis and pneumonia in the lower respiratory tract. Diagnostic markers of the various stages
of infection are not well elucidated. It is important to study the nasal immune responses to
understand its implication in disease resolution and pathology.