The microbiome is really important to the calibration of how the offspring’s immune system is going to respond to an infection or injury or stress.”

Regarding autism, this connection might be related to a specific molecule that the immune system produces called interleukin-17a (also known as IL-17a).

The molecule has already been linked to diseases like psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. It has also been demonstrated to play a significant role in preventing infections, particularly fungal infections. Crucially, it can also affect how the brain grows while still within the womb.