To confirm that expression of CXCR3 is associated with alternative activation of macrophages the expression of the scavenger receptor 'macrophage mannose receptor' (MMR; also known as Mrc1 and CD206), a key indicator of the AAMØ phenotype [38] was analyzed. Here we show that MMR expression is limited to macrophages and microglia that also express CXCR3 (Figures 1C and S1D ). In contrast these cells did not express IL-10 ruling out an anti-inflammatory phenotype ( Figure S1E ) [39] . Depletion using blocking antibodies to CXCR3 or its ligand, CXCL10 led to a significant decrease in T cell recruitment and a reciprocal increase in parasite burden ( Figure  S2 ). However, in addition, the proportion of macrophages in the brain was significantly reduced ( Figure 1D ) despite no defect in macrophage-attracting chemokines ( Figures 1E, F) , confirming a role for CXCR3 in the maintenance of this cell population.