Infection of Immature Mice with Rhinovirus for the Study of Asthma Pathogenesis.

Early-life wheezing-associated respiratory infection with rhinovirus (RV) is a risk factor for asthma development in combination with allergen sensitization and family history. RV infection of immature mice is a useful model to decipher potential immunological mechanisms underlying asthma development following RV infection. Increased type 2 immune response, expansion of group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), eosinophilic inflammation, mucous metaplasia, and airway hyperresponsiveness have been observed in RV-infected six-day-old mice. Herein, we present several materials and methods used for propagating and partially purifying RV, measuring RV titers, infecting immature mice with RV, and harvesting lung tissue for whole lung mRNA extraction and flow cytometry.