Table 1.
Microbiota changes in ASD patients, mouse models with behavioral abnormalities, and links to immune and GI abnormalities.
| Subject | Behavior | Description | Microbiota | Immune | GI | Reference(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
children (43–84 mo) |
regressive- onset autism |
Broad-spectrum antibiotic use was linked to chronic diarrhea followed by loss of language, play, and social skills (n=11). |
X | X | (50) | |
| children | regressive- onset autism |
ASD (n=13) children all had GI symptoms (diarrehea and constipation) had more clostridial species, and significant amount of non-spore-forming anaerobes and microaerophilic bacteria compared to control (n=8). |
X | X | (42) | |
| children | autism | ASD children had elevated levels of Clostridium boltea, Clostridium group I and XI. |
X | (43) | ||
| mice | stress response |
GF mice have elevated stress response, reduced BDNF in cortex and hippocampus. GF colonization with Bifidobacterium infantis reversed stress response. |
X | (40) | ||
|
children (3–16 yo) |
autism | ASD patients (n=58) had taken antibiotics (34.5%), had GI complaints (91.4%), and were taking probiotics/prebiotics (53.4%). ASD patients had higher Clostridium clusters I and II compared to control (n=22). |
X | X | (44) | |
|
children (avg. 11–12 yo) |
regressive- autism (n=24) non- regressive autism (n=32) |
ASD patients (n=56) used significantly more antibiotics. |
X | (114) | ||
| mice | visceral hypersensitivity |
Lactobacillus paracasei NCC2461 normalized visceral sensitivity. |
X | (115) | ||
|
children (6.1 +/− 2.2 yo) |
autism | ASD children (n=15) had significantly higher use of oral antibiotics during first 12 mo of life. |
X | (116) | ||
| rats | depression like behavior |
Probiotic Bifidobacteria infantis treatment did not change behavior but decreased IFNγ, TNFα and IL-6 cytokines. |
X | X | (117) | |
| mice | anxiety-like behavior |
Colonic inflammation induced anxiety like behavior, decreased hippocampal BDNF mRNA, and increased circulating TNFα and IFNγ. Probiotic Bifidobacterium longum restored behavior and BDNF. |
X | X | X | (118) |
| rats | depression- like behavior |
Probiotic Bifidobacterium infantis treatment in a maternal separation stress model normalized IL-6 levels, increased swim behavior and reduced immobility in forced swim test, and restored basal noradrenaline levels in brainstem. |
X | (119) | ||
| rats | visceral hypersensitivity |
Probiotic Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 reduces visceral pain. |
X | (120) | ||
|
children (2–13 yo) |
Impaired social, language, and verbal skills. Repetitive stereotypical behaviors. |
ASD patients (n=33) had varying GI symptoms. More severe autism had higher Desulfovibrio, Bacteroides vulgatus, and Bacteroidetes. Firmicutes was higher in control (n=15). |
X | X | (121) | |
| mice | motor activity and anxiety- like behavior |
GF mice have increased motor activity and decreased anxiety. Changes in PSD-95 and synaptophysin expression in striatum. |
X | (35) | ||
| mice | anxiety- and depression- related behaviors |
Probiotic L. rhamnosus treatment of mice in a stress model reduced stress and increased GABA receptor expression in prefrontal cortex. |
X | (122) | ||
| mice | anxiety-like behavior |
Chemical colitis mouse model treated with probiotic (Bifidobacterium longum) had normalized anxiety like behavior. |
X | X | X | (123) |
|
rats and adults (avg 42 yo) |
anxiety, depression, and stress |
Probiotic (Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium longum) reduced anxiety-like behavior in rats and reduced psychological stress in patients. |
X | (124) | ||
|
children (onset 13.4–5.4 mo) |
autism | ASD patients with GI symptoms (n=15) had a decrease in disaccharidases and hexose transporters, they also had decreases in Bacteroidetes, increase in Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, and increase in Betaproteobacteria compared to patients with only GI (n = 7). |
X | X | (47) | |
| mice | stress-induced corticosterone, anxiety-, and depression- related behavior |
L. rhamnosus increased cortical GABA(B1b) receptor expression, decreased GABA(Aα2) expression in prefrontal cortex and amygdala, but increased in hippocampus. L. rhamnosus reduced stress, anxiety and depression behavior. |
X | (122) | ||
| mice | anxiety-like behavior |
Chronic colitis model has increased anxiety. Bifidobacterium longum normalized behavior, but no change in BDNF expression. |
X | X | (123) | |
| adults (avg 42 yo) | anxiety and depression |
Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum R0175 decreased hospital anxiety and depression. n=10 treated. |
X | (125) | ||
|
children (2–18 yo) |
autism, Asperger’s |
ASD children (n=58) had GI symptoms decreased fecal SCFAs, lower levels of Bifidobacterium and higher levels of Lactobacillus |
X | X | (19) | |
| children (avg 123 mo) | autism | ASD children (n=23) had elevated fecal SCFAs |
X | (126) | ||
| mice | ASD-like behaviors |
MIA mice have decreased GI barrier, increased IL-6, decreased cytokine/chemokine, and gut microbiota dysbiosis, and autism- related behaviors that were restored following colonization with B. fragilis. |
X | X | X | (32) |
| mice | social preference and repetitive behaviors |
GF mice had deficits in social avoidance, social novelty, social investigation. GF mice also had increased repetitive self- grooming. |
X | (22) | ||
| mice | social behavior |
Maternal high fat diet induced social deficits in offspring are restored following colonization with Lactobacillus reuteri |
X | X | (29) |