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. 2025 Feb 19;292(2041):20242482. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2024.2482

Figure 4.

Gene expression from rectal swabs on days 0, 2, 3, 6, 9 (Tnf, Tgfb, Ifng, Mx1) and days 8, 15, 20 (Mx1).

Gene expression from rectal swabs on days 0, 2, 3, 6, 9 (Tnf, Tgfb, Ifng, Mx1) and days 8, 15, 20 (Mx1). Values are natural log-fold change in gene expression relative to day 0 mean expression of all bats. Vertical red dotted lines denote pre- versus post-infection days. (A) Tnf: Between-diet differences were significant on day 0 (ANOVA, F = 8.692, corrected-p‐value = 0.03). (B) Tgfb expression. (C) Ifng expression. (D) Mx1: Between-diet differences: day 9 (ANOVA, F = 16.17, t = 2, corrected-p‐value < 0.001) and day 15 (ANOVA, F = 4.99, t = 2, corrected-p‐value = 0.069). Within-diet differences: compared with day 0 baseline, standard diet bats increased Mx1 expression at days 2 and 3 (paired t‐test, day 2 t = −2.85, df = 6, corrected-p‐value = 0.049; day 3 t = −4.17, df = 6, corrected-p‐value = 0.029). Suboptimal-sugar diet bats also increased expression at days 2 and 3 (day 2 paired t‐test; t = −2.17, df = 6, corrected-p‐value = 0.105; day 3 t = −4.33, df = 6, corrected-p‐value = 0.03). Suboptimal-fat diet bats had a delayed response and did not increase Mx1 expression until day 3 (paired t‐test: t = −3.27, df = 5, corrected-p‐value = 0.044). For all diets, Mx1 expression peaked day 3 and returned to baseline at day 8. However, suboptimal-fat diet bats had a second peak of Mx1 at day 9 (paired t‐test, t = −3.46, df = 5, corrected-p‐value = 0.044) and did not return to baseline until day 20 (day 15 paired t‐test, t = −3.45, df = 5, corrected-p‐value = 0.044). Boxplots show median, 25th and 75th percentiles and range or 1.5 × IQR. Asterisks indicate: *** p < 0.0005, ** p < 0.005, * p < 0.05, · p < 0.1.