Transcriptome-based phylogeny of ticks of the genus Ixodes
A laboratory stock of Ixodes arboricola  was established in 2008, starting from tick sampled on birds captured in woodlands around Antwerp (Belgium), and maintained during the following 8 years by allowing ticks to feed on great tits (Parus major), by Dr Dieter Heylen.  Ticks were sent in RNAlater to the lab (INRA/Oniris/BIOEPAR Nantes, France). RNA extraction was performed in 2016, independently for four conditions (engorged nymphs, engorged adult females, non-engorged adult males, non-engorged adult females). An equimolar mix was used to produce a single final sample.  For all conditions, RNA was  extracted using a NucleoSpin RNA XS column (Macherey-Nagel, Dren, Germany) including a DNase and was stored in RNAsin (Promega, Madison, USA). The library was prepared using the Truseq Stranded kit (v4), and was sequenced on one lane of Illumina HiSeq 2500 along with other tick samples (different species of the genus Ixodes).