Individuals with autism suffer from multiple co-morbid conditions. Immune mediated inflammation that affects not only the brain but also other organs has been implicated in many of the observed clinical features of autism.

Microbial dysbiosis is a common finding in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), particularly in children with chronic GI symptoms. Although there is abundant literature reporting alterations in the GI microbiome composition in children with ASD, the measurements are typically derived from stool samples serving as a proxy for the intestinal lumen, and decisions regarding therapy are made using this information. While the egested fecal microbiome is easily accessed, it is not an optimal proxy for the GI tract mucosal microbiome, or for the luminal fecal microbiome above the descending colon. Data from specific locations within the mucosa of the GI tract would likely provide new and important information.

Having knowledge of the microbiome diversity in an anatomic location-specific manner throughout the gut may provide more relevant diagnostic and therapeutic insight for the treatment of children with ASD and chronic GI symptoms.

Stephen Walker, PhD is a Professor of Regenerative Medicine at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) in the Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston- Salem, NC. He received his PhD in Genetics and Developmental Biology at West Virginia University and was a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Molecular Genetics Program at Wake Forest Baptist Health prior to joining the Department of Pediatrics faculty in the Section on Medical Genetics.

Dr. Walker's group is focused on the application of integrated multi-omics approaches, using patient biospecimens, to understand the molecular basis for chronic gastrointestinal symptoms in children with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, and to understand how chronic GI problems early in childhood may impact neurodevelopment. The objective of this work is to identify clinically relevant biological markers that can be used for diagnosis and/or as therapeutic targets to the benefit of this vulnerable and underserved population.

This talk described our initial efforts aimed at mapping the gastrointestinal microbiome in GI-symptomatic children with ASD.

#gutbrainaxis #microbiome #microflora #gut #science #gutmicrobiome

This talk was part of Synchrony 2020 Online Symposium - 'From Bench to Biopharma', organised in partnership with UC Davis MIND Institute and CalTech.

For more Synchrony 2020 talks: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDtO9h17tcWcRGZHOgtNG9YMJ7BJkO6VR


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Synchrony https://synchronysymposium.com/ is the first and only international symposium on translational research in #autism, that brings together academia, #biotech, pharmaceutical companies and #venture partners from around the world with the mission to improve health and quality of life of people with #autismspectrumdisorder

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The BRAIN Foundation https://brainfoundation.org/ is a 501c(3) non-profit. The founders of BRAIN envision a world where every child and adult on the autism spectrum is healthy, participates fully in education and employment, and has a better quality of life. It aims to catalyze research that results in evidence-based interventions for the disabilities associated with autism, and also results in better medical standard of care. To accomplish this, it funds impactful research through #philanthropy and our network of partners in the venture, corporate, and grassroots community.