Journal article

Kefir ameliorates specific microbiota-gut-brain axis impairments in a mouse model relevant to autism spectrum disorder

M van de Wouw, CJ Walsh, GMD Vigano, JM Lyte, M Boehme, A Gual-Grau, F Crispie, AM Walsh, G Clarke, TG Dinan, PD Cotter, JF Cryan

Brain Behavior and Immunity | ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE | Published : 2021

Open access

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one of the most severe developmental disorders, affecting on average 1 in 150 children worldwide. There is a great need for more effective strategies to improve quality of life in ASD subjects. The gut microbiome has emerged as a potential therapeutic target in ASD. A novel modulator of the gut microbiome, the traditionally fermented milk drink kefir, has recently been shown to modulate the microbiota and decrease repetitive behaviour, one of the hallmarks of ASD, in mice. As such, we hypothesized that kefir could ameliorate behavioural deficits in a mouse model relevant to ASD; the BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J mouse strain. To this end, adult mice were administered ei..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by PepsiCo


Funding Acknowledgements

The APC Microbiome Ireland is a research institute funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) through the Irish Government's National Development Plan. J.F.C, T.G.D and P.D.C. are supported by SFI (Grant No. SFI/12/RC/2273_P2). MB is supported by an educational grant from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), Ireland (No. 15/JP-HDHL/3270; JPIHDHL-NutriCog project `AMBROSIAC'). J.F.C and T.G.D have research support from Mead Johnson, Cremo, 4D Pharma, Dupont, and Nutricia. P.D.C has research support from PepsiCo, PrecisionBiotics Group and Danone. J.F.C, T.G.D and P.D.C. have spoken at meetings sponsored by food and pharmaceutical companies. All other authors report no potential conflicts of interest.