Autism vaccine developed from bacteria found in sufferers' guts

Researchers at the University of Guelph have created the first vaccine for a specific species of bacteria that resides in the gastrointestinal tract of a majority of autistic children —bacteria some scientists believe is responsible for a number of autism symptoms, and even the severity of autism itself.

 

Master’s student Brittany Pequegnat and chemistry professor Mario Monteiro, who conducted the study —which was also published in the journal Vaccine— created a carbohydrate-based vaccine against the Clostridium bolteae bacteria.

 

It has already been observed that over 90% of autistic children suffer from major, recurring gastrointestinal disorders. This is because C. bolteae, which is the culprit behind many such disorders, is often present in the gut of autistic children, compared to healthier children.

 

“Little is known about the factors that predispose autistic children to C. bolteae,” admitted Monteiro, who believes a vaccine would be beneficial to current antibiotic treatments of these infections.

 

“This is the first vaccine designed to control constipation and diarrhea caused by C. bolteae and perhaps control autism-related symptoms associated with this microbe,” he added.

 

Cases of autism have risen in number over the last two decades, to the perplexity of scientists. Some experts, who believe the toxins produced by C. bolteae are linked to autism symptoms, have been studying the bacteria closely. Pequegnat and Monteiro, in particular, studied bacteria grown by PhD student Mike Toh in the laboratory of Emma Allen-Vercoe, professor of microbiology at Guelph.

 

The vaccine, which consists of C. bolteae antibodies raised in rabbits, targets the carbohydrates – particularly the complex polysaccharides – on the surface of the bacteria. In addition, these antibodies can be used to identify the bacteria in the clinical setting.

 

Despite the fact that the vaccine might take over 10 years of human trials before being deemed safe for the public consumption, Moteiro believes it “is a significant first step in the design of a multivalent vaccine against several autism-related gut bacteria.”

 

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council supported the research. — TJD, GMA News