Recent research highlights how vital the gut microbiome is to our health—affecting immunity, mental health, and even neurodevelopment. A new study published in The Journal of Immunology links a mother’s gut microbiome to the development of autism in offspring, based on animal studies.

Researchers at the University of Virginia found that a molecule called interleukin-17a (IL-17a), produced by the immune system, may influence fetal brain development. When pregnant mice with gut microflora prone to IL-17a responses were left untreated, their offspring developed autism-like behaviors. Blocking IL-17a prevented these behaviors.

To confirm the link, scientists transplanted gut bacteria from affected mice into healthy ones. Their offspring then developed similar autism-like traits, suggesting the maternal microbiome plays a key role.

While these findings are preliminary and based on mice, they open new paths in autism research. Future work will explore if similar effects exist in humans and what specific microbiome elements are involved.