Gut Bacteria and Viruses May Be Linked to Autism
Results of a research paper, translated to plain everyday language
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition that affects how a person communicates and interacts with others, and people with ASD may have trouble with social skills, speech, and repetitive behaviours.
ASD is becoming more common, affecting around 10% of children, and doctors are still trying to understand what causes it.
The Gut Microbiome in children with autism
The gut contains trillions of microbes, including bacteria and viruses. Studies show that children with ASD have differences in their gut bacteria compared to typical children, and this population of microbes is called the gut microbiome.
For example, these kids may have less diversity in their gut bacteria. The gut microbiome is important because it can affect the gut-brain axis, which means changes in gut bacteria can impact the brain.
The role of gut viruses
Most studies on ASD gut microbiome look at bacteria. But the gut also contains many viruses, mainly bacteriophages (phages), and these phages infect and kill bacteria, so they shape the types of bacteria in the gut.
This study looked at phages in the gut of 60 children with ASD, versus 64 typical children.
Key Findings
- Children with ASD had different phages in their gut compared to typical children. Some phages were increased in ASD, like phages that target Clostridium and Bacillus bacteria.
- The phage community was disrupted in ASD. Phages and gut bacteria usually have a balanced relationship, but this was altered in ASD.
- Changes to phages impacted bacterial pathways that produce compounds that interact with the brain. This suggests the gut microbiome changes in ASD could affect the brain.
The Takeaway
The findings of the research show that children with autism have differences in their gut viruses, not just bacteria. The altered phage community may disrupt the gut ecosystem and brain pathways in ASD.
Understanding this link could lead to new microbial treatments for autism symptoms.
More research is still needed on how gut microbes impact brain function.
Sources:
Open AccessPublished:February 01, 2024DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101409
