RNA extraction
RNA was extracted from host hindgut tissue using TRIzol® reagent (Life Technologies, Mississauga, ON, CAT=15596018) following the manufacturer’s protocol. RNA was dissolved in sterile water and treated with TURBO™ DNase (Life Technologies, Mississauga, ON) to remove genomic DNA contamination and preserved at –80°C until RNA sequencing or cDNA synthesis and qPCR were performed (see below).