in lung tissue fig1 illustrates the reductions in viral titer in lung tissue that were observed in the both rhcc10 dose groups viral titer in lung is expressed as x 10 7 tcid 50 gram of tissue a total of eighteen cotton rats s hispidus 6 8 weeks old were infected with type a influenza a pr 8 34 strain h1n1 by intranasal inoculation using 10 7 tcid 50 in 0 1 ml volume for each rat six animals received a saline placebo six animals received 0 5 mg kg of rhcc10 and six animals received 5 0 mg kg of rhcc10 by intraperitoneal injection ip the ip route results in significant amounts of circulating rhcc10 and simulates the intravenous route of administration in humans each animal received a total of six doses of either placebo or rhcc10 approximately every 12 hours including two doses morning and afternoon on the day before infection two doses on the day of infection and two doses on the day after infection 3 doses before infection 3 doses after infection animals were sacrificed on day 2 post infection when viral titers are typically highest and viral load was determined in lung tissue fig2 illustrates the statistically significant reduction p lt 0 01 in viral titer in lung tissue that was observed in the 5 mg kg rhcc10 dose group and the trend towards a lower viral titer in the 0 5 mg kg dose group viral titer in lung is expressed as x 10 7 tcid 50 gram of tissue based on the foregoing rhcc10 has been found to reduce viral titer in a respiratory infection indicating the use of rhcc10 to treat cure and or prevent influenza infection accordingly embodiments of the present.