Integrated multi-omics analysis reveals the involvement of the gut-brain axis in children with autism

Collectively, our data argue for a host-centric cascade where genetic vulnerabilities-specifically within the MUC pathway-compromise mucosal integrity, acting as a selective filter that fundamentally reshapes the gut microbiome. By pinpointing these variants as upstream drivers of gut-brain axis dysfunction, we move beyond simple association to identify concrete genetic targets-rare deleterious variants in the mucin (MUC) gene family-for future precision interventions in ASD.