ISM Best Poster 2024 (1): Exploring the Mycobiome in Autism Spectrum Disorder
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Congratulations to Vlasta Demeckova and her team from Pavol Jozef Safarik University and the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, Slovakia, for winning the Best Poster Presentation Award at the Targeting Microbiota 2024 Conference.
Award Winning Poster: "Exploring The Mycobiome: Insights Into Fungal Community Differences Between Autism Spectrum Disorder And Healthy Individuals"
Their study reveals significant differences in mycobiome diversity between children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and neurotypical (NT) controls. Findings indicate lower fungal diversity and dominance of Saccharomyces and Candida in ASD, highlighting potential therapeutic targets for managing gastrointestinal issues.
Dr. Demeckova stated to ISM:
"For many years, my research has focused on how natural methods can enhance the immune system's ability to combat various diseases. Currently, I am studying the role of microbiota in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).
In ASD, we are exploring how sex-specific microbiomes and gene interactions influence behavioral and gastrointestinal symptoms, using fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and probiotic interventions. Additionally, mycobiota, which was a central theme of my award-winning poster, plays a crucial role in immune regulation and gut health. Its involvement in both ASD and UC is a key focus of our ongoing research, as we believe this emerging field holds great potential for advancing our understanding and treatment of these conditions.
In UC, our studies focus on combining FMT with natural additives and beneficial bacterial products to restore gut health and improve bacterial diversity, offering new therapeutic possibilities for inflammatory bowel diseases. Our Laboratory of Gnotobiology, based at the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice (Slovakia), specializes in controlled studies of microbial interactions using gnotobiotic techniques. This enables precise research on gut health and immune modulation in both human and veterinary medicine."
