Sleeping Sickness: A Tale of Two Clocks
Filipa Rijo‐Ferreira, Joseph S. Takahashi
Abstract
Sleeping sickness is caused by a eukaryotic unicellular parasite known to infect wild animals, cattle, and humans. It causes a fatal disease that disrupts many rhythmic physiological processes, including daily rhythms of hormonal secretion, temperature regulation, and sleep, all of which are under circadian (24-h) control. In this review, we summarize research on sleeping sickness parasite biology and the impact it has on host health. We also consider the possible evolutionary advantages of sleep and circadian deregulation for the parasite.
Topics & Concepts
Circadian rhythmBiologySleep (system call)Parasite hostingDiseaseCircadian clockPhysiologyZoologyNeuroscienceMedicineInternal medicineComputer scienceWorld Wide WebOperating systemCircadian rhythm and melatoninNeurobiology and Insect Physiology ResearchGenetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms