Dual RNA-seq of the 3rd-instar larvae of Spodoptera frugiperda treated with Metarhizium guizhouense starin Xct1 at 2 and 3 days post inoculation. Spodoptera frugiperda

In order to obtain a deeper understanding and elucidation of the host-pathogen interaction between Spodoptera frugiperda and Metarhizium guizhouense, we performed dual RNA-seq on the treatment (the 3rd-instar larvae treated with the strain Xct1) and control groups (the 3rd-instar larvae treated with 0.1% Tween-80) at 2 and 3 days post inoculation, respectively. Thus, 4 cDNA libraries (CK2d, CK3d, Mg2d and Mg3d) were constructed and paired (Mg2d versus CK2d, Mg3d versus CK3d and Mg3d versus Mg2d) to identify the differentially expressed genes related to the immune genes of S. frugiperda , the pathogenesis genes of M. guizhouense and the underlying molecular mechanism.