Results published in Cell, led by Mater Research and The University of 
Queensland, show that dietary restriction drives microbiome diversity changes 
in autistic individuals.

In the largest study in the field to date, researchers analysed stool samples 
using Microba's metagenomic analysis, alongside other clinical and biological 
measures, to identify associations between the gut microbiome and diagnosis of 
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). 

The collaborative study examined the complex relationship between the 
microbiome, diet and other traits in autistic individuals, leveraging samples 
and dietary data of 247 children from the Australian Autism Biobank and 
Queensland Twin Adolescent Brain Project and involving more than 40 researchers 
across Australia.

Chloe Yap from Mater Research and The University of Queensland and lead author 
on the paper, explained that the research represents a critical advancement in 
developing an evidence base on the gut microbiome-autism link, and challenges 
existing findings within the field.

"With Microba's expertise, we were able to achieve high-resolution taxonomic 
information about the microbiome, as well as the functional information, to 
really examine the microbiome community at a deeper level than has been done 
before to investigate what link - if any - may exist."

"While the data did not demonstrate a direct association between the microbiome 
and a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the quality of that data 
enabled us to find that behaviour and dietary preferences were driving the 
changes observed in the microbiome, with a less diverse diet resulting in a 
less diverse microbiome," Ms Yap said.

Given the increasing coverage on changes observed in the gut microbiome of 
people on the autism spectrum, Dr Jake Gratten, senior study investigator and 
head of Mater Research's Cognitive Healthy Genomics Group, said the results 
were significant.

"Microbiome-based interventions claiming to treat or minimise autistic traits 
are becoming more common, but there is yet to be convincing evidence that the 
microbiome drives autism," Dr Gratten said.

"Our findings provide much needed clarity to parents and autistic people about 
the autism-microbiome link, something that was only possible using the latest 
technology. What our results highlight is that rather than relying on "fad" 
diets, we need to better support families at meal times," he added.

Associate Professor Lutz Krause, Chief Scientific Officer at Microba and 
contributing author on the paper, said these results demonstrate the importance 
of high-quality research in investigating the microbiome and health connection.

"What we can see from this research is that precise and comprehensive 
measurement, with rich metadata associated with each sample, is critical in 
uncovering the complexity of the microbiome and elucidating the various factors 
that may be influencing the results," he said.

"This level of precision is at the core of Microba's approach, and it's 
exciting to see our research partners making important new discoveries to 
advance the knowledge of how the microbiome is involved in our health to 
improve people's lives."

Source: Microba Life Sciences