Use of Clodronate Liposomes to Deplete Phagocytic Immune Cells in and .

The innate immune system is the primary defense response to limit invading pathogens for all invertebrate species. In insects, immune cells are central to both cellular and humoral immune responses, however few genetic resources exist beyond to study immune cell function. Therefore, the development of innovative tools that can be widely applied to a variety of insect systems is of importance to advance the study of insect immunity. Here, we have adapted the use of clodronate liposomes (CLD) to deplete phagocytic immune cells in the vinegar fly, , and the yellow fever mosquito, . Through microscopy and molecular techniques, we validate the depletion of phagocytic cell populations in both insect species and demonstrate the integral role of phagocytes in combating bacterial pathogens. Together, these data demonstrate the wide utility of CLD in insect systems to advance the study of phagocyte function in insect innate immunity.