Systemic Clodronate Liposome Treatment for Depletion of Blood-Contacting Phagocytes and Investigation of Their Role in the Control of Bunyavirus Viremia.

During viral infection, phagocytic cells participate in numerous immunological processes. A common approach to elucidate the specific contributions of phagocytic cells is through direct comparison of viral pathogenesis of phagocyte-depleted and phagocyte-intact animals. Clodronate liposomes are a versatile and simple means of depleting phagocytes in any animal model. Selection of clodronate liposome route of delivery can yield systemic or local phagocyte depletion as needed. Here we describe the application of clodronate liposome-mediated depletion of blood-contacting phagocytes to investigate their interactions with La Crosse virus (or other bunyaviruses) in a reductionist model of viremia.