Disclosed is the use of a compound capable of accelerating sialylglycoconjugate biosynthesis to restore sialylglycoconjugates on a surface of the respiratory cell. Compounds include the carbohydrate compounds of Formula (I) and (II), an in particular, include N-acetylmannosamine, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylneuraminic acid, and CMP-sialic acid.