The Evolutionary Ecology of Circadian Rhythms in Infection

Overview

Journal Nat Ecol Evol

Publisher Springer Nature

Specialty Biology

Date 2019 Mar 20

PMID 30886375

Citations 40

Authors

Mary L Westwood

Aidan J ODonnell

Charissa de Bekker

Curtis M Lively

Marlene Zuk

Sarah E Reece

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Biological rhythms coordinate organisms' activities with daily rhythms in the environment. For parasites, this includes rhythms in both the external abiotic environment and the within-host biotic environment. Hosts exhibit rhythms in behaviours and physiologies, including immune responses, and parasites exhibit rhythms in traits underpinning virulence and transmission. Yet, the evolutionary and ecological drivers of rhythms in traits underpinning host defence and parasite offence are largely unknown. Here, we explore how hosts use rhythms to defend against infection, why parasites have rhythms and whether parasites can manipulate host clocks to their own ends. Harnessing host rhythms or disrupting parasite rhythms could be exploited for clinical benefit; we propose an interdisciplinary effort to drive this emerging field forward.

Citing Articles

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Fu M, Zhou Y, Zhang X, Yang K, Xu Y, Wang X Nat Commun. 2025; 16(1):1538.

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Time to start taking time seriously: how to investigate unexpected biological rhythms within infectious disease research.

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BioClocks UK: driving robust cycles of discovery to impact.

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Viral- and fungal-mediated behavioral manipulation of hosts: summit disease.

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