title: RNA-seq of spodoptera exigua infected with seMNPV: adult male antennae
design: After the QC procedures, mRNA is enriched from total RNA using oligo(dT) beads. The mRNA was then fragmented randomly in fragmentation buffer, followed by cDNA synthesis using random hexamers and reverse transcriptase. After first-strand synthesis, a custom second-strand synthesis buffer (Illumina) is added, with dNTPs, RNase H and Escherichia coli polymerase I to generate the second strand by nick-translation and AMPure XP beads is used to purify the cDNA. The final cDNA library is ready after a round of purification, terminal repair, A-tailing, ligation of sequencing adapters, size selection and PCR enrichment. Library concentration was first quantified using a Qubit 2.0 fluorometer (Life Technologies), and then diluted to 1 ng/l before checking insert size on an Agilent 2100 and quantifying to greater accuracy by quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) (library activity >2 nM).