Gut Microbiota Ecology and Inferred Functions in Children With ASD Compared to Neurotypical Subjects

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) is a multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorder. The communication between the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the central nervous system seems driven by gut microbiota (GM). Herein, we provide GM profiling, considering GI functional symptoms, neurological impairment, and dietary habits. Forty-one and 35 fecal samples collected from ASD and neurotypical children (CTRLs), respectively, (age range, 3–15 years) were analyzed by 16S targeted-metagenomics (the V3–V4 region) and inflammation and permeability markers (i.e., sIgA, zonulin lysozyme), and then correlated with subjects’ metadata. Our ASD cohort was characterized as follows: 30/41 (73%) with GI functional symptoms; 24/41 (58%) picky eaters (PEs), with one or more dietary needs, including 10/41 (24%) with food selectivity (FS); 36/41 (88%) presenting high and medium autism severity symptoms (HMASSs). Among the cohort with GI symptoms, 28/30 (93%) showed HMASSs, 17/30 (57%) were picky eaters and only 8/30 (27%) with food selectivity. The remaining 11/41 (27%) ASDs without GI symptoms that were characterized by HMASS for 8/11 (72%) and 7/11 (63%) were picky eaters. GM ecology was investigated for the overall ASD cohort versus CTRLs; ASDs with GI and without GI, respectively, versus CTRLs; ASD with GI versus ASD without GI; ASDs with HMASS versus low ASSs; PEs versus no-PEs; and FS versus absence of FS. In particular, the GM of ASDs, compared to CTRLs, was characterized by the increase of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Rikenellaceae, Pasteurellaceae, Klebsiella, Bacteroides, Roseburia, Lactobacillus, Prevotella, Sutterella, Staphylococcus, and Haemophilus. Moreover, Sutterella, Roseburia and Fusobacterium were associated to ASD with GI symptoms compared to CTRLs. Interestingly, ASD with GI symptoms showed higher value of zonulin and lower levels of lysozyme, which were also characterized by differentially expressed predicted functional pathways. Multiple machine learning models classified correctly 80% overall ASDs, compared with CTRLs, based on Bacteroides, Lactobacillus, Prevotella, Staphylococcus, Sutterella, and Haemophilus features. In conclusion, in our patient cohort, regardless of the evaluation of many factors potentially modulating the GM profile, the major phenotypic determinant affecting the GM was represented by GI hallmarks and patients’ age.

A synbiotic formulation of Lactobacillus reuteri and inulin alleviates ASD-like behaviors in a mouse model: the mediating role of the gut–brain axis

“…37 The abundance of Roseburia was increased in ASD children compared with the control group, and Roseburia was associated with gastrointestinal symptoms associated with ASD. 38 The synbiotic intervention significantly reduced the abundance of harmful bacteria in ASD mice, such as Odoribacter and Roseburia (Fig. 4).…”

Associations between Serum Mineral Nutrients, Gut Microbiota, and Risk of Neurological, Psychiatric, and Metabolic Diseases: A Comprehensive Mendelian Randomization Study

“…Sutterella , identified as a microbial biomarker for ASD patients in linear discriminant effect size analysis, is a principal bacterial genus implicated in the increased risk of ASD, a finding consistent with our results [ 59 ]. The study by Williams et al also indicated a higher abundance of Sutterella in children with ASD [ 59 , 60 ].…”

Gut Microbiota Ecological and Functional Modulation in Post-Stroke Recovery Patients: An Italian Study

“…Furthermore, Sutterella , an acetate producer, could be involved in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) [ 49 , 50 ], gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and coeliac disease (CD), and their comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease and obesity [ 51 , 52 ].…”