Dual RNA sequencing of symbiotic and aposymbiotic Cardiocondyla obscurior ants
RNA reads generated from dual RNA sequencing of pooled life stages and castes (larvae, pupae, adult workers and adult queens) to capture transcriptomic profiles of both host, Cardiocondyla obscurior, and symbiont, Westeberhardia, in symbiotic individuals, and just the host in aposymbiotic individuals. Samples originated from Japan but have been lab-reared for over 10 years. For aposymbiotic colonies, Westeberhardia was removed experimentally using heat treatment over a period of 4 weeks, the colonies were then returned to their standardised conditions, identical to symbiotic colonies.