I love science, especially biology, and try to learn a bit more each day about the living world. Do you wonder why you feel the need to sleep when you are sick? It is your immune system at work–and not the organism causing your illness. Recently some peptides have been identified in mice and fruit flies, which, working with circadian (daily) rhythms, help them to sleep–and may even help fight microbes. Fruit flies and mice who slept more during an infection survived longer. Of course, as with other discoveries, much work needs to be done before you can translate this directly to an effect in humans. But the next time the doctor says “and get some rest”, I will listen!
Reference: Science 363:455, 2019
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