Diet, The Microbiome, And Autism

The Prologue: A Tale of Professors in Pursuit

Greetings, fellow seekers of knowledge! I am Mario Casas Mattioli, a spirited associate professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the Memory Brain Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine. Joining me in this intellectual expedition is the remarkable Shelly Buffington, my postdoc accomplice. Today, prepare yourself for an enthralling narrative that transcends the boundaries of conventional understanding, as we delve into the perplexing world of maternal diet-induced obesity and its profound impact on offspring neurodevelopment and social behavior.

The Puzzling Dance of Maternal Obesity and Microbiome

In the realm of scientific exploration, we set out on a mission to unravel the intricacies of maternal obesity and its dance with the microbiome of offspring. Picture this: hyper-tired females, a dash of anticipation, and voila, offspring emerge into the world. To our surprise, the behavioral symphony of these offspring, when they reached adulthood, revealed a stunning revelation – those born to maternal high-fat Italian moms exhibited severe impairments.

But fear not, dear reader, for we are relentless investigators. We directed our gaze toward the elusive microbiome, intrigued by its role in the orchestra of behavioral changes. As the association between autism in children and gastrointestinal disorders unfolded before our eyes, we sought to understand how maternal diet, a culinary conductor of sorts, could influence the microbiome of the young minds.

The Co-housing Chronicles: A Poop-Powered Odyssey

In our scientific odyssey, we embarked on a unique experiment – the Co-housing Chronicles. Picture a world where offspring with maternal high-fat diets and those with regular diets coexist. Why, you ask? Because in this world, they engage in a peculiar exchange of microbiota, a fecal symphony, if you will. The result? The microbiome of the maternal high-fat diet offspring was restored, and lo and behold, so was their social behavior.

Through 16S sequencing, we witnessed a magnificent restoration of the microbial tapestry. A lack of a specific bacteria or a subset seemed to be the culprit. In our germ-free endeavors, where animals roamed sans microbiome, social impairments akin to those in maternal high-fat diet offspring emerged. Yet, the reintroduction of microbiota from normal animals breathed life back into social behaviors, proving the microbial magic.

The Lactobacillus Revelation: A Microbial Maestro

As we delved into the genome, a revelation awaited us – several bacteria, including the intriguing Lactobacillus Reuteri, witnessed a significant reduction in abundance. Could this be the missing link in the behavioral puzzle? To test our hypothesis, we cultivated the bacteria, infused it into the water, and treated the maternal half-Italian offspring.

The results? A symphony of social behaviors restored to their former glory. The missing piece, it seemed, was the elusive Lactobacillus Reuteri. But how did this microbial maestro orchestrate such changes in the brain? Enter oxytocin, the hormone of social interactions. In the offspring of maternal high-fat diets, oxytocin levels dwindled. Yet, introducing Lactobacillus Reuteri breathed life back into these levels and, consequently, into synaptic strength associated with social behavior.

The Epilogue: A Bacterial Beacon of Hope

In our grand finale, we present a revelation that could revolutionize the landscape of behavioral symptoms linked to autism spectrum disorder. Lactobacillus Reuteri emerges as a potential probiotic, a beacon of hope in the realm of treatment. Our journey through maternal diet, offspring development, and the microbial symphony has uncovered not only mysteries but also potential solutions, proving that the bacterial ballet within us holds keys to understanding and healing.

In conclusion, dear reader, as we stand on the precipice of discovery, let the microbial melody resonate, for within it lies the promise of a brighter, probiotic-infused future for behavioral well-being.