Determination of cytosine methylation patterns in Metarhizium anisopliae during distinct lifestyles

The Metarhizium genus harbors important entomopathogenic and arthropod-pathogenic fungi. These species have been widely explored as biological control agents. Thus, the interaction between Metarhizium species and the respective hosts have been explored in a molecular fashion. However, the impact of epigenetic modulation on the infection cycle of Metarhizium species is little understood. Among the different epigenetic modifications, DNA methylation of cytosine bases is an important mechanism to control gene expression in several organisms. To better understand if DNA methylation can govern Metarhizium-host interactions, the genome-wide DNA methylation profile of Metarhizium anisopliae was explored in two conditions: tick mimicked infection and a saprophytic-like control.