Ecto enzymes and purinergic signaling as immune modulation strategies in parasitic infections

Parasitic immunology examines how protozoan and helminth parasites manipulate host immunity to establish persistent infections. Increasing evidence identifies surface exposed ecto phosphatases, ecto ATPases, and ecto nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases (NTPDases) as important mediators of this process. By hydrolyzing extracellular ATP and promoting adenosine generation, these enzymes can suppress effector T cell activity, limit dendritic cell activation, and create tissue environments that support parasite survival. However, evidence remains fragmented across biochemical, parasitological, and immunological disciplines. Important questions remain regarding how parasite ecto enzymes differ across species and life cycle stages, how purinergic signals shape innate and adaptive immune responses, and how these pathways influence chronicity, disease progression, and tissue damage. Recent studies of Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei, and Leishmania species have highlighted the immunoregulatory potential of these mechanisms, but a comparative and integrative framework across parasitic diseases is still lacking. Further investigation is therefore needed to connect enzymatic activity with immune outcomes and translational opportunities.This Research Topic aims to establish a comprehensive understanding of how ecto enzymes and purinergic signaling regulate host immunity during parasitic infections. It will bring together research on the biochemical properties, structural features, expression patterns, and functional activities of parasite derived ecto phosphatases, ecto ATPases, and NTPDases. The Research Topic will also examine how ATP, adenosine, and purinergic receptor signaling influence dendritic cells, macrophages, T cells, inflammasome activation, NETosis, and other immune processes. By connecting molecular mechanisms with disease phenotypes, it will assess whether ecto enzyme activity can serve as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker and whether ecto enzyme inhibitors or purinergic modulators could restore protective immunity, improve antiparasitic treatment, or limit host tissue damage.To gather further insights into ecto enzyme mediated immune regulation in protozoan and helminth infections, this Research Topic will focus on mechanistic, comparative, and translational studies linking parasite biochemistry with host immune outcomes. We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:-Biochemical and functional characterization of parasite surface ecto phosphatases, ecto ATPases, and NTPDases-Ecto enzyme activity in trypanosomatids, Leishmania species, and helminth parasites-Structural and evolutionary comparisons of ecto enzymes across parasite species-Regulation of ecto enzyme expression during different parasite life cycle stages-ATP hydrolysis, adenosine production, and purinergic signaling during infection-Roles of P1 and P2 purinergic receptors in host immune cells-Adenosine mediated immune evasion and suppression of protective immunity-Interactions between purinergic signaling and inflammasome activation, NETosis, or macrophage polarization-Effects of ecto enzymes and purinergic pathways on chronicity, disease progression, and tissue damage-Ecto enzyme activity as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker-Ecto enzyme inhibitors and purinergic modulators as adjunct antiparasitic therapies-Translational strategies for targeting parasite mediated purinergic immune regulation The topic editors declare no conflict of interest Topic editors: Jose Roberto Meyer-Fernandes, LUIZ FERNANDO KELLY, Marcos André Vannier Dos Santos Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84994/ecto-enzymes-and-purinergic-signaling-as-immune-modulation-strategies-in-parasitic-infections