FIG 1.

Altered gut microbiota composition in children with ASD. (a) The Chao 1 value for gut microbiota is significantly lower in the ASD group than in the TD group; this means a lower richness in gut microbiota in children with ASD. ***, P < 0.001 by Wilcoxon rank sum test. (b) Principal-component analysis of the gut microbiota composition at the species level shows that the two principal components (PC1 and PC2) can explain 6.5% and 5.43% of the variation, respectively. Distinctions among the groups are clearer at the PC2 level. (c) The abundance of the phylum Actinobacteria is significantly higher in children with ASD than in children in the TD group. *, P < 0.05 by Wilcoxon rank sum test. (d) PC2 (bacterial species level) is significantly negatively correlated with Eggerthella lenta abundance.