Humoral immunity and autism spectrum disorders

Gut microbiome-mediated epigenetic regulation of brain disorder and application of machine learning for multi-omics data analysis

The gut-brain axis (GBA) is a biochemical link that connects the central nervous system (CNS) and enteric nervous system (ENS). Clinical and experimental evidence suggests gut microbiota as a key regulator of the GBA. Microbes living in the gut not only interact locally with intestinal cells and the ENS but have also been found to modulate the CNS through neuroendocrine and metabolic pathways. Studies have also explored the involvement of gut microbiota dysbiosis in depression, anxiety, autism, stroke, and pathophysiology of other neurodegenerative diseases. Recent reports suggest that microbe-derived metabolites can influence host metabolism by acting as epigenetic regulators. Butyrate, an intestinal bacterial metabolite, is a known histone deacetylase inhibitor that has shown to improve learning and memory in animal models. Due to high disease variability amongst the population, a multi-omics approach that utilizes artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze and integrate omics data is necessary to better understand the role of the GBA in pathogenesis of neurological disorders, to generate predictive models, and to develop precise and personalized therapeutics. This review examines our current understanding of epigenetic regulation of the GBA and proposes a framework to integrate multi-omics data for prediction, prevention, and development of precision health approaches to treat brain disorders.

Imidacloprid Pesticide Regulates Gynaikothrips uzeli (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) Host Choice Behavior and Immunity Against Lecanicillium lecanii (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae)

We attempted to develop an efficient management strategy against gall thrips (Gynaikothrips uzeli Zimmermann (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae)) via the combined application of a systemic insecticide (imidacloprid) and an entomopathogenic fungus (Lecanicillium lecanii Zimmerman (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae)). The attraction of G. uzeli to Ficus microcarpa volatiles after imidacloprid treatment was weaker than for untreated plants, which could be due to modulation of volatile metabolite profiles by imidacloprid. The toxicity of L. lecanii against nymph and adult thrips was much higher for those that fed on plants treated with a 50% lethal concentration (LC50) of imidacloprid than for the controls. Phenoloxidase (PO) activity was significantly inhibited in treated G. uzeli, while hemocyte abundances were not different in treated and healthy individuals. Thus, imidacloprid impacted the PO-related humoral immunity of G. uzeli, but not their cellular immunity. Overall, F. microcarpa treated with imidacloprid at LC50 concentrations exhibited volatile profiles that decreased the attraction of G. uzeli and also indirectly increased the pathogenicity of L. lecanni by inhibiting the humoral immunity of gall thrips. The results reported here suggest that combined application of imidacloprid and L. lecanii could be used as a new integrated control strategy against gall thrips.

Early Disruption of the Microbiome Leading to Decreased Antioxidant Capacity and Epigenetic Changes: Implications for the Rise in Autism

Currently, 1 out of every 59 children in the United States is diagnosed with autism. While initial research to find the possible causes for autism were mostly focused on the genome, more recent studies indicate a significant role for epigenetic regulation of gene expression and the microbiome. In this review article, we examine the connections between early disruption of the developing microbiome and gastrointestinal tract function, with particular regard to susceptibility to autism. The biological mechanisms that accompany individuals with autism are reviewed in this manuscript including immune system dysregulation, inflammation, oxidative stress, metabolic and methylation abnormalities as well as gastrointestinal distress. We propose that these autism-associated biological mechanisms may be caused and/or sustained by dysbiosis, an alteration to the composition of resident commensal communities relative to the community found in healthy individuals and its redox and epigenetic consequences, changes that in part can be due to early use and over-use of antibiotics across generations. Further studies are warranted to clarify the contribution of oxidative stress and gut microbiome in the pathophysiology of autism. A better understanding of the microbiome and gastrointestinal tract in relation to autism will provide promising new opportunities to develop novel treatment modalities.