Frontiers in microbiologyAug 4, 2026

Cleaned gut bacteria transplant improves symptoms, gut microbes, and metabolism in twins with autism

Gut-Brain Axis Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Updated Aug 5, 2026

Abstract

A twin-paired controlled study examines the associations of washed microbiota transplantation (WMT) with clinical symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

ASD is characterized by impaired social communication and repetitive behaviors.
Dysregulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis is associated with the development of ASD.
WMT has shown potential as an intervention for ASD but lacks genetically identical controls in previous studies.
This study design aims to reduce the impact of genetics and shared environment on the findings.
Associations between WMT, clinical symptoms, gut microbiota, and metabolic profiles in children with ASD are being explored.

Simplified

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition characterized by impaired social communication, repetitive behaviors, and restricted interests. Dysregulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis is closely associated with the pathogenesis of ASD. Washed microbiota transplantation (WMT) has emerged as a promising intervention for ASD, but existing cohort studies lack genetically identical controls, making it difficult to distinguish intervention-related changes from genetic and environmental confounding factors. This twin-paired controlled study adopted a study design that minimizes the influence of genetics and shared environment, to explore the associations of WMT with clinical symptoms, gut microbiota, and metabolic profiles in children with ASD.