Precision microbial intervention improves social behavior but not autism severity
A recent study published in Cell Host & Microbe conducted by Antonio Y. Hardan from Stanford University, Mauro Costa-Mattioli from Baylor College of Medicine, Luigi Mazzone from Policlinico Tor Vergata Foundation Hospital, and their team investigated the efficacy of L. reuteri (a product combining strains ATCC-PTA-6475 and DSM-17938) in addressing social deficits associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
The study, a pilot double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial, demonstrated that L. reuteri, particularly the combination of strains 6475 and 17938, improves social functioning in children with ASD. However, it does not significantly affect overall autism severity or repetitive behaviors. Additionally, the intervention does not induce notable alterations in microbiome composition or immune profiles.
Interestingly, the research reveals that while both strains contribute to the observed improvements in social behavior, only strain ATCC-PTA-6475 demonstrates efficacy in reversing social deficits in preclinical mouse models of ASD.
These findings highlight the potential of precision microbial intervention as a novel therapeutic avenue for enhancing social functioning in children with ASD. Further large-scale trials are warranted to explore the specific effects of different strains and to validate these promising results.
Photo Credits: Graphical Abstract - Mazzone et al. Cell Host & Microbe (2024)
