title: Chronobiology: relevance for tuberculosis.
abstract: Despite the knowledge concerning the pathogenesis of tuberculosis, this disease remains one of the most important causes of mortality worldwide. Several risk factors are well-known, such poverty, HIV infection, and poor nutrition, among others. However, some issues that may influence tuberculosis warrant further investigation. In particular, the chronobiological aspects related to tuberculosis have garnered limited attention. In general, the interface between tuberculosis and chronobiology is manifested in four ways: variations in vitamin D bioavailability, winter conditions, associated infections, and circannual oscillations of lymphocytes activity. Moreover, tuberculosis is related to the following chronobiological factors: seasonality, latitude, photoperiod and radiation. Despite the relevance of these topics, the relationship between them has been weakly reviewed. This review aims to synthesize the studies regarding the association between tuberculosis and chronobiology, as well as urge critical discussion and highlight its applicability to health policies for tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Micobactérias, Instituto de Pesquisas Biológicas, Laboratório Central do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lígia Gabrielle
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Gabriel Natan
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.forename: Lia Rita
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Azeredo Bittencourt
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tufik
authors.forename: Monica Levy
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Andersen
mesh_terms: D002909:Chronobiology Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017440:Photoperiod; D012621:Seasons; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D