Alterations of Gut Microbiota among Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

In humans, altered microbial composition of the gut has been reported in different disorders, including children with autism. A number of studies comparing gut microbiota of autistic spectrum disorder patients and typically developed individuals revealed higher amount (albeit with some contradictions) of different bacteria—Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Tenericutes in autistic individuals. In this study differences in gut microbiota composition between children with atypical autism and childhood autism were identified. Significant differences in-between gut microbiomes in children belonging to these two groups at genus and species levels were identified.