the fecal microflora of Korean children with ASD

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social and behavioral impairments. Recent studies suggested that gut microbiota plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of ASD. Here, we have investigated the fecal microflora of Korean children with ASD to identify the gut microbiota profiles associated with ASD. Fecal samples were obtained from 54 children in the ASD group and 38 age-matched children exhibiting typical development. Sys-tematic bioinformatic analysis revealed that the composition of gut microbiota differed between the ASD and typically developing children (TDC). In addition, the total amount of short chain fatty acids, the metabolites produced by bacteria, was increased in children with ASD. At the phylum level, we found a significant increase in the relative abundance of Actinobacteria in the ASD group, while Bacteroidetes was significantly decreased. We also found a significant increased abundance of Bifidobacterium in ASD, at the genus level. The functional analysis of microbiota in ASD children predicted that the several pathways including genetic information processing and amino acid metabolism can be associated with pathogenesis of ASD. These results showed further evidence of altered gut microbiota in children with ASD and may provide new perspectives on the diagnosis and therapeutic approaches of patients with ASD.