New research shows that bacterial and nonbacterial components of the gut microbiome can accurately differentiate children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from neurotypical children. The study, led by Siew Ng, identified alterations in 14 archaea, 51 bacteria, 7 fungi, 18 viruses, 27 microbial genes, and 12 metabolic pathways in children with ASD. Machine-learning models achieved high predictive value with AUC values up to 0.91, suggesting the potential for a noninvasive diagnostic test for ASD. The results, published in Nature Microbiology, highlight the role of nonbacterial microorganisms in influencing the development of ASD and may offer novel therapeutic targets.
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Gut Biomarkers Accurately Flag Autism Spectrum Disorder
