As it’s the middle of August, with sunshine at its brightest and the days not far from their longest, it seems the perfect time to remind our readers that winter – and its coughs and colds – will soon be with us.

New research from scientists at the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Metabolic Science looks at how the chances of infection are greatest at certain times of day. Their findings suggest that we are more susceptible to infection by viruses in the evening and night.

Experiments on mice kept in conditions with controlled amounts of light and darkness found that mice were more likely to be infected with the herpes virus at the start of their resting phase. Further, the virus spread further when introduced at the start of this phase as well.

The body clock - our circadian rhythms – is regulated by the genes Bmal1 and Clock. The researchers found confirmation that regulation of the body clock is responsible from experiments on mice lacking in the Bmal1 gene. These mice demonstrated no pattern of infection similar to the daily one observed in regular mice.

The researchers, led by Dr Rachel Edgar, identify shift workers as some of the potential beneficiaries of their study. Shift workers’ mismatched arrangement of days and nights resting has been found to make them far more likely to suffer acute illness than those with a regular sleep pattern – and we now, at least partly, know why.

However, the same could well be said of students. Whether pulling all-nighters studying or spending the early hours in sticky clubs, students’ sleep cycles are also highly variable. Despite youthful resilience, this certainly indicates a possible reason for how run-down students can feel.

The research also sheds light on the seasonal aspect of disease. Interestingly, as the Bmal1 gene is less active during the winter months, this may be part of the reason why humans are more susceptible to serious illnesses when it gets darker outside.

While further research is needed to further establish these results, this work certainly gives a new view on how the spread of disease can be tackled. Attacking viruses through drugs designed to improve the response of the body at low points in the circadian cycle offers a new treatment route for a variety of illnesses.

In short, too many late nights in Cindies this Michaelmas will make you more likely to get ill – and it might not just be the excessive drinking.