scholarly journals New and Preliminary Evidence on Altered Oral and Gut Microbiota in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Implications for ASD Diagnosis and Subtyping Based on Microbial Biomarkers

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuejun Kong ◽  
Jun Liu ◽  
Murat Cetinbas ◽  
Ruslan Sadreyev ◽  
Madelyn Koh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Comorbid Conditions ◽  
Oral Flora ◽  
Microbial Biomarkers ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Matched Design

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurological and developmental disorder characterized by behavioral and social impairments as well as multiple co-occurring conditions, such as gastrointestinal abnormalities, dental/periodontal diseases, and allergies. The etiology of ASD likely involves interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Recent studies suggest that oral and gut microbiome play important roles in the pathogenesis of inflammation, immune dysfunction, and disruption of the gut–brain axis, which may contribute to ASD pathophysiology. The majority of previous studies used unrelated neurotypical individuals as controls, and they focused on the gut microbiome, with little attention paid to the oral flora. In this pilot study, we used a first degree-relative matched design combined with high fidelity 16S rRNA (ribosomal RNA) gene amplicon sequencing in order to characterize the oral and gut microbiotas of patients with ASD compared to neurotypical individuals, and explored the utility of microbiome markers for ASD diagnosis and subtyping of clinical comorbid conditions. Additionally, we aimed to develop microbiome biomarkers to monitor responses to a subsequent clinical trial using probiotics supplementation. We identified distinct features of gut and salivary microbiota that differed between ASD patients and neurotypical controls. We next explored the utility of some differentially enriched markers for ASD diagnosis and examined the association between the oral and gut microbiomes using network analysis. Due to the tremendous clinical heterogeneity of the ASD population, we explored the relationship between microbiome and clinical indices as an attempt to extract microbiome signatures assocociated with clinical subtypes, including allergies, abdominal pain, and abnormal dietary habits. The diagnosis of ASD currently relies on psychological testing with potentially high subjectivity. Given the emerging role that the oral and gut microbiome plays in systemic diseases, our study will provide preliminary evidence for developing microbial markers that can be used to diagnose or guide treatment of ASD and comorbid conditions. These preliminary results also serve as a starting point to test whether altering the oral and gut microbiome could improve co-morbid conditions in patients with ASD and further modify the core symptoms of ASD.

scholarly journals Serum Oxytocin Level Correlates With Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minshi Huang ◽  
Kevin Liu ◽  
Zhen Wei ◽  
Zhe Feng ◽  
Jierong Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
New Findings

To investigate the levels of serum oxytocin (OT) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and explore the association between OT levels and gut microbiota relative abundances, we recruited 39 children with ASD children–mother dyads and 44 healthy controls. Serum OT levels were determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and gut microbiota abundances were determined by 16S rRNA sequencing. We found that the OT level of ASD was lower than the healthy control group overall (P < 0.05). Furthermore, we present preliminary evidence of gut microbiome dysbiosis observed among children with ASD to lower levels of OT based on correlational analysis between serum OT and specific gut microbiota abundances (P < 0.05). We also found sex-related differences in serum OT levels and GIS index (P < 0.05). However, the generalizability of findings relevant to females with ASD require further validation in future studies involving larger sample sizes and balanced sex distributions due to the small number of females involved in this study. Nonetheless, these new findings further our understanding of the effects of low serum OT levels among individuals with ASD, which provides preliminary evidence in hopes of guiding future study design or mechanistic studies. The findings of the present study may be suggestive of potential ASD subtypes based on ASD severity and gut microbiome composition that may facilitate the prediction of the therapeutic responses of OT among those with ASD.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies for Improving Adaptive Behavior and Motor Function in Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1726
Author(s):  
Leonardo Zoccante ◽  
Michele Marconi ◽  
Marco Luigi Ciceri ◽  
Silvia Gagliardoni ◽  
Luigi Alberto Gozzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Motor Function ◽  
Adaptive Behavior ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Parental Distress ◽  
Effective Option ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Equine Assisted

Equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) have been suggested to improve adaptive behavior, and possibly motor function, in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study investigated the effects of EAAT on adaptive behavior and motor function in 15 children with ASD (13 males) aged 7–15 years as well as the impact of EAAT on the magnitude of stress in the parent–child system and the evolution in the child interaction with both the trained therapist and the therapeutic animal through the 20 weekly sessions of EAAT. EAAT were associated with greater adaptive behavior and coordination (all p ≤ 0.01) as well as a progressive improvement in the child’s abilities to respond to the increasing complexity of such form of positive behavioral support (all p < 0.001). However, EAAT did not prove to be effective in reducing parental distress. Collectively, preliminary evidence presented here may have important public health implications and gives reason to hope that EAAT could possibly be an effective option in ASD, warranting further investigation of its potential benefits in clinical trials among larger samples.

scholarly journals Gut Microbiome-Based Analysis of Lipid A Biosynthesis in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An In Silico Evaluation

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 688
Author(s):  
Abdulkadir Yusif Maigoro ◽  
Soojin Lee
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Lipid A ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Synthesis Rate ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Gastrointestinal Problems

The link between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the gut microbiome has received much attention, with special focus on gut–brain-axis immunological imbalances. Gastrointestinal problems are one of the major symptoms of ASD and are thought to be related to immune dysregulation. Therefore, in silico analysis was performed on mined data from 36 individuals with ASD and 21 control subjects, with an emphasis on lipid A endotoxin-producing bacteria and their lipopolysaccharide (LPS) metabolic pathways. Analysis of enzyme distribution among the 15 most abundant genera in both groups revealed that almost all these genera utilized five early-stage enzymes responsible for catalyzing the nine conserved lipid A synthesis steps. However, Haemophilus and Escherichia, which were significantly more abundant in individuals with ASD than in the control subjects, possess a complete set of essential lipid A synthesis enzymes. Furthermore, the 10 genera with the greatest increase in individuals with ASD showed high potential for producing late-stage lipid A products. Collectively, these results suggested that the synthesis rate of immunogenic LPS end products is likely to increase in individuals with ASD, which may be related to their gastrointestinal symptoms and elevated inflammatory conditions.

Sex differences in age of diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder: Preliminary evidence from Uganda

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Bonney ◽  
Catherine Abbo ◽  
Collin Ogara ◽  
Michele E. Villalobos ◽  
Jed T. Elison
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Age Of Diagnosis

Underdevelopment of the gut microbiota and bacteria species as non-invasive markers of prediction in children with autism spectrum disorder

Gut ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. gutjnl-2020-324015
Author(s):  
Yating Wan ◽  
Tao Zuo ◽  
Zhilu Xu ◽  
Fen Zhang ◽  
Hui Zhan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Chinese Children ◽  
Chronological Age ◽  
Microbiome Composition ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Faecal Microbiome

ObjectiveThe gut microbiota has been suggested to play a role in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We postulate that children with ASD harbour an altered developmental profile of the gut microbiota distinct from that of typically developing (TD) children. Here, we aimed to characterise compositional and functional alterations in gut microbiome in association with age in children with ASD and to identify novel faecal bacterial markers for predicting ASD.DesignWe performed deep metagenomic sequencing in faecal samples of 146 Chinese children (72 ASD and 74 TD children). We compared gut microbial composition and functions between children with ASD and TD children. Candidate bacteria markers were identified and validated by metagenomic analysis. Gut microbiota development in relation to chronological age was assessed using random forest model.ResultsASD and chronological age had the most significant and largest impacts on children’s faecal microbiome while diet showed no correlation. Children with ASD had significant alterations in faecal microbiome composition compared with TD children characterised by increased bacterial richness (p=0.021) and altered microbiome composition (p<0.05). Five bacterial species were identified to distinguish gut microbes in ASD and TD children, with areas under the receiver operating curve (AUC) of 82.6% and 76.2% in the discovery cohort and validation cohort, respectively. Multiple neurotransmitter biosynthesis related pathways in the gut microbiome were depleted in children with ASD compared with TD children (p<0.05). Developing dynamics of growth-associated gut bacteria (age-discriminatory species) seen in TD children were lost in children with ASD across the early-life age spectrum.ConclusionsGut microbiome in Chinese children with ASD was altered in composition, ecological network and functionality compared with TD children. We identified novel bacterial markers for prediction of ASD and demonstrated persistent underdevelopment of the gut microbiota in children with ASD which lagged behind their respective age-matched peers.

Study of the gut Microbiome Profile in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Single Tertiary Hospital Experience

2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. 887-896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shwikar AbdelSalam Ahmed ◽  
Azza Mahmoud Elhefnawy ◽  
Hanan Galal Azouz ◽  
Yara Safwat Roshdy ◽  
Mona Hamdy Ashry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Hospital Experience ◽  
Microbiome Profile

scholarly journals Autoimmune Encephalitis and Autism Spectrum Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Whiteley ◽  
Ben Marlow ◽  
Ritika R. Kapoor ◽  
Natasa Blagojevic-Stokic ◽  
Regina Sala
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Autoimmune Encephalitis ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Elevated Risk ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Brain Inflammation ◽  
Brain Cells ◽  
Herpes Encephalitis ◽  
Autoimmune Psychosis

The concept of “acquired autism” refers to the hypothesis that amongst the massive heterogeneity that encompasses autism spectrum disorder (ASD) there may be several phenotypes that are neither syndromic nor innate. Strong and consistent evidence has linked exposure to various pharmacological and infective agents with an elevated risk of a diagnosis of ASD including maternal valproate use, rubella and herpes encephalitis. Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) describes a group of conditions characterised by the body's immune system mounting an attack on healthy brain cells causing brain inflammation. The resultant cognitive, psychiatric and neurological symptoms that follow AE have also included ASD or autism-like traits and states. We review the current literature on AE and ASD. Drawing also on associated literature on autoimmune psychosis (AP) and preliminary evidence of a psychosis-linked subtype of ASD, we conclude that AE may either act as a potentially causative agent for ASD, and/or produce symptoms that could easily be mistaken for or misdiagnosed as autism. Further studies are required to discern the connection between AE and autism. Where autism is accompanied by regression and atypical onset patterns, it may be prudent to investigate whether a differential diagnosis of AE would be more appropriate.

Measuring the service system impact of a novel telediagnostic service program for young children with autism spectrum disorder

Autism ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 1051-1056 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Alacia Stainbrook ◽  
Amy S Weitlauf ◽  
A Pablo Juárez ◽  
Julie Lounds Taylor ◽  
Jeffrey Hine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Diagnostic Center ◽  
Autism Spectrum Disorder Risk ◽  
Early Intervention System

As prevalence of autism spectrum disorder continues to increase, so too does the need for timely, accessible diagnostic consultation. The present work extends from a previous study which provided preliminary evidence for the feasibility of expert clinicians to utilize telemedicine to triage autism spectrum disorder risk in young children. However, it did not examine whether a telediagnostic model had a demonstrable impact on tertiary care center referrals and usage. We therefore examined whether the introduction of telemedicine-based diagnostic consultation for families served by a rural medical facility affected referrals overall as well as to a metropolitan tertiary care diagnostic center. Results suggest that telemedicine diagnostic consultation in partnership with a referring early intervention system may positively impact referrals for diagnostic evaluation as well as the ability of families to schedule and attend appointments.

Preliminary Evidence That Motor Planning Is Slower and More Difficult for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder During Motor Cooperation

Motor Control ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-149
Author(s):  
Breanna E. Studenka ◽  
Kodey Myers
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Motor Planning ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Motor Action ◽  
Children With Asd ◽  
Sequence Versus

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit impairment in helping someone else with a motor action, which may arise from impairment in selecting and preparing motor responses. Five children with ASD and five typically developing children performed a cooperative motor planning task that required them to reach for, lift, and hand an object (hammer or stick) to a researcher. The response, movement, and grasp time were measured. Children with ASD grasped the object longer on trials where they helped, indicating that the action was planned in sequence versus as a whole (i.e., prior to the onset of movement). The hammer object elicited a quicker response than the stick, suggesting the facilitation of planning by tools with inherent action properties. Finally, the increased helping of children with ASD was not mirrored by changes in the response, movement, or grasp time.

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