RNA-seq of fibroblasts from two bat species stimulated by dsRNA to trigger antiviral response

Dermal fibroblasts from megabat and microbat, stimulated with dsRNA (poly(I:C)) and controls. Bats can harbor some of the most deadliest viruses to humans while rarely displaying pathogenicity themselves. To study their innate immune response - the expression program that is initiated once a pathogen is senseds, we stimulated dermal fibroblast cells from two species (Rousettus aegyptiacus and Pipistrellus kuhlii) for four hours with dsRNA - a viral RNA mimic that triggers a rapid innate immune response. Subsequently, we profiled the response using bulk RNA-seq.