Sleeping Sickness: A Tale of Two Clocks

Filipa Rijo-Ferreira; Joseph S Takahashi

doi:10.3389/fcimb.2020.525097

Sleeping Sickness: A Tale of Two Clocks

Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2020 Oct 2:10:525097. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.525097. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Filipa Rijo-Ferreira^{1

2}, Joseph S Takahashi^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neuroscience, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.
² Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.

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.

Keywords: circadial rhythm disorders; circadian; infectious disease; parasite; sleep.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Cattle
Circadian Rhythm
Parasites*
Sleep
Trypanosomiasis, African* / veterinary

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding