IntroductionAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social impairment, restricted interest, repetitive behavior, and stereotypical behavioral patterns. Diagnosing ASD presents considerable challenges; a previous large-sample study in children linked ASD and intestinal flora imbalances.MethodsTo explore the composition and functional changes of the gut microbiota in children with ASD, shotgun metagenomic sequencing was used to evaluate the gut microbiota o