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University of Utah Health scientists have found that mice with frequent gastrointestinal distress were less likely to socialize with other mice, a behavior reminiscent of social impairments associated with autism. They could alleviate both GI symptoms and the behavioral changes they provoke by introducing Blautia, a specific species of bacteria, into the animals’ guts. The findings show that it is possible to impact health and social behavior by manipulating the gut microbiome in a controlled way.
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Luat Nguyen, University of Utah Health
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