ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Psychiatry
Sec. Autism
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1609638
Gut Microbiota Composition and Phylogenetic Analysis in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Comparative Study
Provisionally accepted
- Leshan Normal University, Leshan, China
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Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is frequently associated with gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances, implicating the gut microbiota and its metabolites, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), in disease pathology via the gut-brain axis. However, the microbial-SCFA nexus in ASD remains controversial, necessitating integrated analyses to clarify these relationships. This study aimed to investigate intestinal microbiota composition and its potential influence on SCFA production in children with ASD compared to typically developing Control, exploring links to GI symptoms and neurodevelopmental outcomes.Methods: Fecal samples from 38 ASD children (aged 4-12 years) and 33 age-matched Control were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing (Illumina MiSeq, V3-V4 region) to assess microbial diversity, taxonomy, and predicted functions (PICRUSt2). Alpha and beta diversity, differential taxa, and metabolic pathways were evaluated with QIIME2, MetagenomeSeq, and LEfSe. SCFA production was inferred based on taxonomic composition and microbial abundance analysisSCFA levels were intended for measurement but unreported, prompting inferences from microbial data.Results: ASD samples exhibited reduced alpha diversity (Chao1, Observed species, p < 0.05), distinct beta diversity (PERMANOVA, p = 0.001), and taxonomic shifts, with inferred Firmicutes depletion and Bacteroidetes enrichment. Predicted metabolic pathways suggested lower butyrate and higher acetate/propionate production in ASD (p < 0.01). Network analysis revealed diminished microbial connectivity, potentially disrupting SCFA synthesis. 3 Conclusions: These findings indicate microbial dysbiosis in ASD, likely skewing SCFA profiles toward reduced butyrate and elevated propionate, which may exacerbate GI and neurological symptoms. This supports microbiota-targeted interventions (e.g., probiotics) as potential therapeutic strategies, providing theoretical and data support for further determining the impact of SCFAs on metabolism.
Keywords: Gut Microbiota, phylogenetic analysis, Autism Spectrum Disorder, metabolite, Child
Received: 11 Apr 2025; Accepted: 10 Jun 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Xiang, Zhang, Wei and Chang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Fangtao Xiang, Leshan Normal University, Leshan, China
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