Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Analysis Reveals Immune Genes in Tuberculosis with Potential Relevance for Host-Directed Interventions

Background

Growing evidence suggests that Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) infection manipulates the host's epigenetic landscape to evade the immune responses and establish a disease phenotype. Among these epigenetic changes, DNA methylation has emerged as a key mechanism that influences the host immune response, playing a crucial role in either controlling the infection or contributing to disease pathogenesis. M. tb and other pathogens can alter the host's epigenetic landscape to weaken immune defenses and facilitate infection.