Gut microbiota and urine metabolomics signature in autism spectrum disorder children from Southern China

Abstract Background and aim Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that may have long-term effects on individual development, family functioning, and social integration. This study aimed to determine the gut microbiota and urine metabolomics signature and identify the region...

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Main Authors: Ziyu Huang, Ailing Wei, Hai Yuan, Shiqin Huang, Xiaolan Chen, Yunli Han, Xing Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:BMC Pediatrics
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05922-z
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author Ziyu Huang
Ailing Wei
Hai Yuan
Shiqin Huang
Xiaolan Chen
Yunli Han
Xing Li
author_facet Ziyu Huang
Ailing Wei
Hai Yuan
Shiqin Huang
Xiaolan Chen
Yunli Han
Xing Li
author_sort Ziyu Huang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background and aim Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that may have long-term effects on individual development, family functioning, and social integration. This study aimed to determine the gut microbiota and urine metabolomics signature and identify the regional characteristics in ASD from Southern China. Methods We conducted a cohort study of 88 well-characterized participants from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in Southern China. Gut microbiota and urine metabolomics signature was explored by 16 S rRNA sequences and untargeted metabolomic profiles respectively. Results The gut microbial α-diversity of ASD were significantly lower than healthy controls. The β-diversity analysis indicated that the community structure in ASD group was obviously distinctive. Significant microbiota enriched in 5 sensitive species, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Bifidobacterium catenulatum, Blautia obeum, Lachnoclostridium sp., and Blautia sp. in ASD children. In addition, functional analysis of the gut microbiota revealed that the ATP-binding cassette and ABC-2 type transport system ATP-binding protein were closely associated with ASD. Notably, microbiota showing a positive correlation with Androstenedione, Stearamide, Oleamide, Cadaverine, Hexadecanamide, Orotic acid, Linoleic acid, Palmitoleic acid, Lauric acid, suggesting a potential association with the Arginine and proline metabolism pathway. Conclusion This study found lower α-diversity, unique β-diversity, enriched species, and positive correlations between microbiota and Arginine/Proline metabolis, which demonstrated typical signature of microbiota and metabolites discriminated Zhuang ethnic group ASD children of regional characteristics.
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spelling doaj-art-5ea4e6b66c3a48d7be6f40a9df69f9ba2025-08-20T03:06:05ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312025-08-0125112110.1186/s12887-025-05922-zGut microbiota and urine metabolomics signature in autism spectrum disorder children from Southern ChinaZiyu Huang0Ailing Wei1Hai Yuan2Shiqin Huang3Xiaolan Chen4Yunli Han5Xing Li6Pediatrics, Guangxi Medical UniversityDepartment of children rehabilitation, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityDepartments of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityDepartments of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityDepartments of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityDepartments of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityDepartments of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityAbstract Background and aim Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that may have long-term effects on individual development, family functioning, and social integration. This study aimed to determine the gut microbiota and urine metabolomics signature and identify the regional characteristics in ASD from Southern China. Methods We conducted a cohort study of 88 well-characterized participants from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in Southern China. Gut microbiota and urine metabolomics signature was explored by 16 S rRNA sequences and untargeted metabolomic profiles respectively. Results The gut microbial α-diversity of ASD were significantly lower than healthy controls. The β-diversity analysis indicated that the community structure in ASD group was obviously distinctive. Significant microbiota enriched in 5 sensitive species, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Bifidobacterium catenulatum, Blautia obeum, Lachnoclostridium sp., and Blautia sp. in ASD children. In addition, functional analysis of the gut microbiota revealed that the ATP-binding cassette and ABC-2 type transport system ATP-binding protein were closely associated with ASD. Notably, microbiota showing a positive correlation with Androstenedione, Stearamide, Oleamide, Cadaverine, Hexadecanamide, Orotic acid, Linoleic acid, Palmitoleic acid, Lauric acid, suggesting a potential association with the Arginine and proline metabolism pathway. Conclusion This study found lower α-diversity, unique β-diversity, enriched species, and positive correlations between microbiota and Arginine/Proline metabolis, which demonstrated typical signature of microbiota and metabolites discriminated Zhuang ethnic group ASD children of regional characteristics.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05922-zAutism spectrum disorderGuangxi Zhuang autonomous regionGut microbiotaUrine metabolomics
spellingShingle Ziyu Huang
Ailing Wei
Hai Yuan
Shiqin Huang
Xiaolan Chen
Yunli Han
Xing Li
Gut microbiota and urine metabolomics signature in autism spectrum disorder children from Southern China
BMC Pediatrics
Autism spectrum disorder
Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region
Gut microbiota
Urine metabolomics
title Gut microbiota and urine metabolomics signature in autism spectrum disorder children from Southern China
title_full Gut microbiota and urine metabolomics signature in autism spectrum disorder children from Southern China
title_fullStr Gut microbiota and urine metabolomics signature in autism spectrum disorder children from Southern China
title_full_unstemmed Gut microbiota and urine metabolomics signature in autism spectrum disorder children from Southern China
title_short Gut microbiota and urine metabolomics signature in autism spectrum disorder children from Southern China
title_sort gut microbiota and urine metabolomics signature in autism spectrum disorder children from southern china
topic Autism spectrum disorder
Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region
Gut microbiota
Urine metabolomics
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-025-05922-z
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