©The Author(s) 2026. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Psychiatry. Feb 19, 2026; 16(2): 111012
Published online Feb 19, 2026. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i2.111012
Published online Feb 19, 2026. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i2.111012
Characteristics and functions of the gut microbiome in monozygotic twins with autism spectrum disorders of varying severity
Yi-Yang Huang, Department of Child Mental Health, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, Jiangsu Province, China
Chun-Yan Li, Department of Clinical Psychology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210000, Jiangsu Province, China
Yun Li, Hui Fang, Xiao-Yan Ke, Child Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: Huang YY designed the research and wrote the first manuscript; Huang YY, Li CY, Li Y, Fang H, and Ke XY contributed to conceiving the research and analyzing data; Huang YY and Ke XY conducted the analysis and provided guidance for the research. All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 8177050957.
Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Nanjing Brain Hospital, Affiliated with Nanjing Medical University (approval No. 2017-KY021).
Informed consent statement: All study participants, or their legal guardian, provided informed written consent prior to study enrollment.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
STROBE statement: The authors have read the STROBE Statement-checklist of items, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the STROBE Statement-checklist of items.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
Corresponding author: Xiao-Yan Ke, PhD, Child Mental Health Research Center, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 264 Guangzhou Road, Gulou District, Nanjing 210000, Jiangsu Province, China. kexynj@126.com
Received: August 1, 2025
Revised: September 12, 2025
Accepted: November 11, 2025
Published online: February 19, 2026
Processing time: 181 Days and 23.5 Hours
Revised: September 12, 2025
Accepted: November 11, 2025
Published online: February 19, 2026
Processing time: 181 Days and 23.5 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heritable and heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder. Diagnostic and treatment options remain limited. Researchers are increasingly investigating the relationship between gut dysbiosis and ASD. This study examined gut microbiota composition and functions in monozygotic twins with varying ASD severity levels. Enrichment of Porphyromonas and reduced expression of genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and stress responses were observed, suggesting a correlation between gut microbial dysbiosis and ASD severity.