Fruit flies offer hope of future treatment

NANJING - Chinese scientists have discovered that the absence of a certain protein in fruit flies causes an imbalance in intestinal microorganisms, with the flies showing symptoms similar to autism in humans.

Led by Liu Xingyin, a professor at Nanjing Medical University in Jiangsu province, the research team said the discovery could lead to a new theoretical path for treating autism based on digestion and immune activities.

Liu said the deficient fruit flies kept their distance from one another, were slow to respond and had reduced direct contact with other flies.