Korean-American Scientist Couple Discovers Major New Cause of Autism

A Korean-American couple may have found one of the causes of Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a condition that has puzzled scientists from all over the world since it was first described in the 1940s.

Harvard Medical School professor Huh Jun-ryeol and, his wife, MIT’s professor Gloria Choi, claimed to have identified not only what causes the disorder that can affect how the brain develops, but also identify possible techniques to preventing it.

In two research studies published by science journal ‘Nature’ (via MIT news) on Thursday (September 14), the pair of professors reported that they discovered that certain bacteria in the mother’s digestive tract may cause an autistic offspring.

The scientists also determined the exact location in the brain that is linked to autistic behaviors. The researchers believe such discovery can eventually lead to the development of a cure for the condition.

“We identified a very discrete brain region that seems to be modulating all the behaviors associated with this particular model of neurodevelopmental disorder,” said Professor Choi.

According to Korea Daily, the research involved the study of a pregnant mouse which delivered an offspring that shows autistic behaviors after being infected by a virus. In the experiments, it was found that certain bacteria in the mother’s digestive tract helped produce immune cells that somehow influenced the development of baby’s brain cells directly.

A pregnant mouse, which was treated with antibiotics to kill the bacteria, had a normal baby mouse.

The findings determined that mothers who experience a severe infection during pregnancy are at higher risk of having a child with autism.

Professor Huh and Choi attribute their success in the “synergy effect” they have as a couple working together on a research.

“When we were doing the research together in two different labs, we sent support for each other instead of measuring whose work is better. It was very helpful for our research success,” Professor Huh was quoted as saying.

“Our major fields of study are different as they are each Immunology and Neurobiology, and it actually helps us researching on Neuroimmunology,” Huh added.

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Contributer : NextShark