In the Syrian hamster, AMθ were identified as high forward light scatter, high side light scatter (FSChiSSChi), MARCO-expressing cells in hamster BAL fluid (Fig. 1a) and intratracheal administration of clodronate-encapsulated liposomes was found to effectively reduce the number of AMθ in hamsters during ANDV infection as determined by a reduction in either MARCO+ cells (Fig. 1b and d) or FSChiSSChi cells (Fig. 1c and d) and histolopathologic analysis of hamster lung tissue (Fig. 1e) during ANDV infection of hamsters. Here, MARCO is linked to infection.