Decoding Leukocyte Dynamics: Functional Biomarkers and Precision Diagnostics in Parasitic Infections

Area of Science:

• * Immunology
• * Parasitology
• * Computational Biology

Background:

• * Parasitic infections impact over 1.5 billion people globally.
• * Traditional diagnostics lack specificity due to static leukocyte counts.
• * Host-parasite interactions involve complex leukocyte functional dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• * Review advances in leukocyte functional dynamics for parasitic diseases.
• * Highlight applications in diagnostics, prognostics, and therapeutics.
• * Introduce the concept of 'precision parasitology'.

Main Methods:

• * Systematic evaluation of single-cell multi-omics and spatial transcriptomics.
• * Application of AI-driven flow cytometry and CRISPR-based functional genomics.
• * Focus on malaria, leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, and Chagas disease.

Main Results:

• * Granulocyte NETosis worsens malaria-induced endothelial damage.
• * Monocyte signatures predict leishmaniasis relapse; eosinophil markers differentiate helminthiasis.
• * Single-cell tech identifies infection-specific immune subsets (e.g., TREM2high macrophages).
• * AI platforms reveal prognostic signatures (e.g., CD19+/CD21low B cells for severe malaria).
• * Leukocyte ratios (NLR) stratify mortality risk, guiding immunomodulatory therapies.

Conclusions:

• * Integrating functional leukocyte profiling with pathogen detection enables 'precision parasitology'.
• * Tailoring interventions based on individual immune responses is key.
• * This approach overcomes drug resistance and advances neglected tropical disease elimination goals.