Comparative gut microbiome profiling in autistic and neurotypical children: Focus on Clostridium perfringens | ||
| Microbes and Infectious Diseases | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 26 October 2025 | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/mid.2025.433061.3348 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Yousra Ashraf Khedr* 1; Ibrahim Ashraf Abdelwahab2; Kholoud Baraka1; Rania Abozahra1; Sarah M. Abdelhamid1 | ||
| 1Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Damanhour University, Damanhour 22511, Egypt | ||
| 2Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharos University in Alexandria; Canal El Mahmoudia Street, Beside Green Plaza Complex 21648, Alexandria, Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition increasingly linked to gut dysbiosis via the gut-brain axis. This study aims to investigate gut microbiome changes, specifically Clostridium perfringens, in 22 Egyptian children (11 ASD, 11 controls; aged 3–9 years) using culture and real-time PCR. Methods: A total of 22 children (11 with ASD and 11 neurotypical controls) aged 3–9 years were enrolled. Stool samples were analyzed for gut microbiota using SYBR Green real-time PCR targeting specific and universal 16S rRNA genes. Clostridium perfringens was isolated anaerobically, biochemically identified with the VITEK 2 system, and tested for antibiotic susceptibility by the Kirby–Bauer method. Results: ASD children showed significant dysbiosis, with higher Clostridium perfringens , a reduced Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, lower Lactobacillus reuteri and Bifidobacterium longum, and isolated C. perfringens antibiotic susceptibility. Conclusion: Findings reveal a distinct microbial signature, suggesting that pathogenic overgrowth and loss of protective microbes may contribute to gastrointestinal and neurobehavioral symptoms, highlighting potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Autism Spectrum Disorder; Clostridium perfringens; Dysbiosis; Gut-Brain Axis; Gut Microbiome | ||
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