The mother's microbiome -- the collection of microscopic organisms that live inside us -- can determine the risk of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in her children suggests a study. The findings showed that an unhealthy microbiome in the mother can make her unborn child susceptible to neurodevelopmental disorders. But blocking a particular inflammatory molecule interleukin-17a (IL-17a) produced by the immune system can help halt the development of such disorders in lab mice. We determined that the microbiome is a key contributor in determining susceptibility (to autism-like disorders) so it suggests that you could target either the maternal microbiome or
