Autism has long been known yet unknown, its defining characteristics understood for decades, but its biological roots unknown. Now, a new research study conducted at Princeton University and the Simons Foundation is changing the narrative by identifying four separate genetic subtypes of autism. This study is a key turning point in understanding that autism is not one disorder, but several variations based on genetic diversity.

Autism is generally thought of as a spectrum, that is, each person exhibits a particular set of characteristics, behaviors, and abilities. To date, efforts to connect particular genes with particular behaviors have been unsuccessful. You might think of it as sitting down to try to assemble several jigsaw puzzles simultaneously, all of which share similar pieces. That is, until scientists started to sort children into categories by behavior before examining their genomes.

Natalie Sauerwald, co-author and associate research scientist at the Flatiron Institute, clarifies, "We couldn't see the whole picture…until we divided people into subtypes."

Her lab, in collaboration with Aviya Litman of Princeton, analyzed data from more than 5,300 kids between 4 and 18 who were in SPARK, a large autism cohort. They measured over 230 characteristics—social communication, repetitive behaviors, developmental milestones, anxiety, ADHD, and others. Employing sophisticated statistical modeling, they discovered four clusters, each associated with distinct genetic patterns.

The Four Autism Subtypes Identified

Social and Behavioral Challenges (37%)

Children achieve typical developmental milestones but have difficulty with social skills, repetitive behaviors, and usually suffer from ADHD, anxiety, or depression.

Mixed ASD with Developmental Delay (19%)

They have a mixture of autism characteristics with delays in early development. Co-occurring conditions are less prevalent compared to the first group.

Moderate Challenges (34%)

Traits are less severe than in other groups, and developmental milestones are on track. There are no major co-occurring conditions.

Broadly Affected (10%)

The most severely affected, this group exhibits pervasive autism characteristics, developmental delay, and intellectual disability.

Notably, the subtypes aligned directly with genetic results. The Broadly Affected subgroup had the greatest percentage of de novo mutations, genetic changes that occur spontaneously and aren't inherited.

Why Recognsing Genetic Traits Matter For Autism Diagnosis And Treatment?

The implications of the study are vast for science, medicine and families. For the first time, genes intersect meaningfully with behavior in a way that shows there isn't one biological pathway to autism. Rather, by correlating certain profiles of traits with different kinds of genetic mutations, the study demonstrates that there are several developmental pathways—representing a profound departure from the old one-size-fits-all paradigm. Clinically, it means potentially improved prognoses and more tailored treatment plans. For example, some subtypes of children may be more helped by speech and social therapy, whereas others will need targeted developmental therapies. From the research standpoint, this makes it possible for researchers to research autism in smaller, more homogeneous populations, which significantly enhances the promise of identifying targeted biological treatments that work.

Dr. Catherine Lord, a leading autism researcher not involved in the study, noted, “These groups make sense…and the connection to genetics is what makes these results most noteworthy.”

As Sauerwald stresses, these four subtypes aren’t definitive but serve as a foundation:

“We’ve discovered a data-driven framework showing there are at least four meaningful subtypes…meaningful both for clinical work and research.”

But this group was largely white and not strictly representative. Further research is required to affirm whether these subtypes hold true across the world. The question then becomes how to translate this model into day-to-day clinics—can pediatricians accurately assign subtypes, and will it lead to better outcomes?

Beyond Behavior Key Traits of Autism

Autism is typically characterized by social and behavioral issues, but there's more than meets the eye. From sensitivity to sound and light, and from stimming to masking and hyperfocus, defining characteristics go beyond behavior. Knowing these trends does a better job of describing in more complete, accurate terms how each person is affected in their own way by autism.

• Sensitivities to sound, light, taste
• Stimming routines employed for concentration or self-calming
• Masking habits, where autistic people change behavior in order to fit in
• Burnout, profound exhaustion after social overstimulation
• Literal thinking, hyperfocus, and deep special interests

Pattern combinations such as these group differently across subtypes and affect each child's developmental trajectory.

Are We Moving Toward Personalized Autism Treatment?

For parents, knowing a child's particular autism subtype may bring them much-needed clarity, direction, and hope. By having a more specific profile of their child's subtype, educational interventions can be more appropriately matched to individual strength and difficulty profiles, supporting more efficient learning assistance. Mental health treatment, as well, can be more specifically tailored to address the specific affective and behavioral tendencies associated with each subtype. Outside of clinical treatment, understanding a child's subtype can assist families in linking with others who are undergoing similar experiences, creating peer networks based on mutual understanding. And most importantly, perhaps, this information is the portal to future therapies—everything from tailored treatment regimes to possible genetic counseling or medication—all with the person's biology in mind.

In a disorder that has long defied tidy labels, this subclassification provides a whole lot more than even labels—provide guidance.

Autism's intricacy had infuriated researchers and families both. But with purposeful subtypes in place, the field now has a plan. Genetics can engage significantly with therapy and support and make a difference in people's lives.

Autism is no longer a monolithic condition—it's a spectrum within a spectrum, identified not just by diagnosis but by the biology that informs every experience.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is embarking on one of its most ambitious public health projects yet—expanding wastewater surveillance from five cities to 50 within the next six months. The program will track 10 different viruses, including influenza strains and pathogens responsible for fever, diarrheal illnesses, encephalitis, and respiratory infections.

The goal is simple but powerful: to create an early warning system for outbreaks before they overwhelm hospitals. For India, a country with a vast and densely packed population, the ability to detect viral threats at the community level could be transformative. For the rest of the world, the project provides a case study of how wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) can help governments prepare for and potentially prevent pandemics.

What Is Wastewater Surveillance?

Wastewater surveillance, also called Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE), is the practice of analyzing sewage for fragments of viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens that people shed when they use toilets, sinks, or showers.

An infected person symptomatic or not will excrete viral particles through stool, urine, or even when washing. These particles end up in community sewage. When scientists collect and test these samples, they can detect infection trends in entire populations, sometimes weeks before clinical cases surface in hospitals.

Unlike hospital-based testing, which only captures people who seek medical care, wastewater surveillance gives a panoramic view of community health, including those who are asymptomatic, undiagnosed, or reluctant to get tested.

Why India Is Betting Big on Sewage Science?

Currently, India uses wastewater surveillance to monitor COVID-19 and polio. But with ICMR’s expansion plan, the program will track up to 10 viruses. Among them: avian influenza viruses and pathogens associated with acute encephalitis syndrome, diarrheal outbreaks, and respiratory infections.

This move isn’t just about academic curiosity. It’s about preparedness. India, like many other countries, is witnessing a rise in emerging and re-emerging pathogens fueled by rapid urbanization, climate shifts, increased human-animal interaction, and dense living conditions. With its massive population and vulnerable healthcare infrastructure, early detection is not optional, it’s essential.

The scaling up from five cities to 50 represents a tenfold leap in capacity, one that could significantly strengthen India’s ability to anticipate outbreaks and allocate resources before a crisis spirals.

How Wastewater Surveillance Process Works?

The science behind wastewater surveillance follows a clear workflow:

Pathogen Shedding – People infected with a virus shed particles into sewage through waste or while washing.

Collection – Samples are taken from untreated sewage at pumping stations or before treatment plants.

Laboratory Testing – Viral fragments (RNA/DNA) are extracted and tested using advanced molecular methods.

Data Analysis – Trends in viral load are mapped, typically providing a snapshot of community infections within 5–7 days.

Public Health Action – Authorities can respond with outbreak alerts, vaccination drives, and resource mobilization.

In short, wastewater turns into a real-time diagnostic tool—not for individuals, but for entire neighborhoods and cities.

Was COVID-19 First Detected Through Wastewater Surveillance?

If there’s one proof of concept for WBE, it’s the COVID-19 pandemic. In India, a study from Mumbai showed the SARS-CoV-2 virus was detectable in wastewater up to three weeks before clinical diagnoses surged. In Pune, scientists detected the XBB strain months ahead of physicians reporting the first confirmed cases.

Across the world, from Sydney to San Diego, cities leveraged wastewater as an important gauge of viral spread, enabling policymakers to coordinate with greater precision by timing restrictions, calibrating testing, or initiating vaccination campaigns.

This forecasting ability is precisely why India's growth is important. Picking up on early warning signs in sewage might be the difference between a localized outbreak and a national crisis.

How Does Wastewater Surveillance Addressing More Than Just Viruses?

Perhaps the most underestimated use for wastewater monitoring is to monitor antimicrobial resistance (AMR)—an invisible international threat that might render many antibiotics obsolete.

India already has an AMR surveillance program in place through a network of 60 hospitals tracking which medicines are effective against which infections.But this only captures patients who make it to hospitals. Wastewater surveillance can reveal resistance patterns at the community level, detecting resistant pathogens carried by people who never seek treatment.

Given projections that AMR could kill 10 million people annually worldwide by 2050, this kind of broad, real-world data is critical.

How Wastewater Surveillance Can Predict Viral Outbreaks?

India’s program is ambitious, but it’s part of a larger global shift. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) already uses wastewater to monitor COVID-19 and other pathogens. In Australia, Dr. Jiaying Li and her team at the University of Sydney developed wastewater methods to track not only viruses but also “forever chemicals” and illicit drug residues, showing the technique’s versatility.

These international examples highlight why public health experts call WBE the “stethoscope of cities.” It listens to what individuals may not yet know about their health and helps leaders act before hospitals get overwhelmed.

For India, timing is everything. The country has weathered devastating outbreaks—from the 2009 H1N1 flu to COVID-19’s Delta surge—and its public health infrastructure is still catching up. Traditional syndromic surveillance systems (tracking patients with fever, cough, or diarrhea) are already in place but rely on people showing up at hospitals.

Wastewater surveillance changes that equation. It brings data from households, schools, workplaces, and entire communities—even those who never set foot in a clinic. That means potential hot spots can be identified and interventions rolled out before the first wave of hospitalizations.

The surveillance will be carried out through ICMR’s national network of Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories, which already tests about 1,500 patient samples a week for respiratory illnesses. Adding wastewater to the mix gives India a more layered, resilient system of outbreak detection.

If successful, the program could eventually scale nationwide and serve as a model for other low- and middle-income countries. Integrating wastewater surveillance with India’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (a massive health data initiative) could turn real-time sewage signals into actionable alerts for policymakers and communities alike.

Wastewater may not be glamorous, but it might just be one of the most powerful public health tools of the 21st century. By expanding its surveillance network to 50 cities, India is not just strengthening its defenses against outbreaks it’s offering the world a glimpse of how proactive, community-level monitoring could rewrite the rules of epidemic preparedness.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the biologics license for Ixchiq, a live-attenuated chikungunya vaccine, following reports of serious adverse reactions in older adults. The side effects closely mirrored symptoms of chikungunya virus itself, raising concerns about patient safety and the vaccine’s overall clinical benefit.

Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral infection that causes high fever, rash, headaches, nausea, fatigue, and severe joint and muscle pain. The illness is notorious for its long-lasting impact, with some patients experiencing disabling joint pain for months or even years.

Global rise in chikungunya cases

The FDA decision comes at a time when chikungunya cases are surging worldwide. In recent months, outbreaks have been reported across South America, Asia, and Africa. The World Health Organization (WHO) has noted significant increases in Brazil, Paraguay, and India, with localized outbreaks also being reported in parts of Southeast Asia.

In the United States, sporadic travel-related cases have been documented, though no major outbreak has yet occurred. Concern is growing that climate change and global travel could expand the reach of chikungunya-carrying mosquitoes to new regions.

U.S. issues travel advisory for China amid outbreaks

Adding to global health concerns, the U.S. recently issued a travel advisory for Americans visiting China after reports of chikungunya cases in several provinces. Health officials have urged travelers to take preventive measures such as using mosquito repellents, wearing long-sleeved clothing, and staying in well-screened accommodations. The advisory highlights the urgency of preventive strategies as global cases rise.

Read: US Weighs China Travel Warning As Chikungunya Cases Near 5,000: Report

Safety issues with Ixchiq vaccine

Ixchiq, developed by French biotech company Valneva, received accelerated FDA approval in November 2023. It was intended to protect adults aged 18 and older at increased risk of exposure to the virus. However, post-approval monitoring has revealed troubling safety signals.

According to the FDA’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS):

• One confirmed case of encephalitis-related death has been linked to the vaccine.
• More than 20 serious adverse events resembling chikungunya illness have been reported.
• 21 hospitalizations and three total deaths have been associated with vaccination.

The FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research concluded that Ixchiq’s clinical benefits remain unproven and that its risks outweigh potential advantages for most individuals. Regulators determined that continued use in the U.S. could jeopardize public health.

Read: Mosquitoes Deployed To Kill Virus-Carrying Mosquito Larvae: How China Is Using Biological Weapons To Wage War Against Chikungunya

Manufacturer defends vaccine but halts U.S. distribution

Valneva, the vaccine’s manufacturer, has defended its product, stating that the reported side effects align with known risks identified during clinical trials. The company emphasized that older adults had already been flagged for potential complications in prescribing information.

“As we determine potential next steps, and as the clear threat of chikungunya continues to escalate globally, Valneva remains fully committed to maintaining access to our vaccine as a global health tool for addressing and preventing outbreaks of this devastating illness,” Valneva CEO Thomas Lingelbach said in a statement.

The company has confirmed that while Ixchiq will no longer be shipped or sold in the U.S., it will continue to be made available in other countries where it is licensed. Valneva also reiterated its commitment to accelerating vaccine access in low- and middle-income nations where chikungunya remains endemic.

US President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are allegedly preparing to phase out COVID-19 vaccines “within months,” according to a close associate of Kennedy. The move, if true, would mark a dramatic reversal for Trump, who once hailed the vaccine’s rapid development during the pandemic as a “monumental achievement.”

An HHS spokesperson told Newsweek that the agency does not comment on potential policy decisions. The White House has dismissed the claims as “baseless speculation.”

Also Read: Chikungunya Vaccine License Suspended In U.S. By FDA

Trump’s Shift From Championing to Questioning Vaccines

Back in December 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Trump described the rollout of vaccines under Operation Warp Speed as a “historic success.” He praised scientists, pharmaceutical companies, and government agencies for developing and distributing the shots in record time.

But the political landscape around vaccines shifted in the years that followed. Segments of Trump’s base began raising doubts about vaccine safety and effectiveness, fueling conspiracy theories and distrust of public health guidance.

RFK Jr.’s Anti-mRNA Vaccine Stance

Kennedy, who has long been criticized for spreading vaccine skepticism, insists he is not “anti-vaccine.” Earlier this month, he announced HHS would pull $500 million in federal funding from 22 mRNA vaccine development projects, arguing that data shows they “fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu.”

Critics, however, say Kennedy’s statements echo long-debunked claims and risk undermining public trust in science. His leadership at HHS has already sparked petitions demanding his removal, with one Change.org campaign backed by more than 45,000 signatories from physicians and medical students.

Read: RFK Jr Pulls 500 Million Funds From mRNA Vaccine Projects, Says The Focus Will Be Shifted To 'Traditional' Vaccines

Associate Claims Vaccine Ban Coming “Within Months”

Dr. Aseem Malhotra, a British cardiologist and vocal vaccine skeptic, told The Daily Beast that Kennedy’s position is supported by “influential” members of Trump’s family. Malhotra, an adviser to the lobby group Make America Healthy Again Action, claimed those close to Kennedy believe it is “incomprehensible” that the vaccine remains available.

He suggested the vaccine could be withdrawn in stages, pending further review of alleged “vaccine injuries,” or removed entirely in a single sweeping decision. Such a move, he admitted, could cause “fear of chaos” and carry major legal consequences.

The White House quickly pushed back. “The Administration is relying on Gold Standard Science and is committed to radical transparency,” spokesperson Kush Desai said. “Unless announced by the Administration, any discussion about HHS policy should be dismissed as speculation.”

Contested Evidence and Scientific Pushback

Malhotra cited a 2022 paper in the journal Vaccine, which claimed recipients of Pfizer and Moderna shots had a 16% higher risk of serious adverse events compared to placebo groups. However, mainstream medical experts have dismissed the study as flawed and misleading, stressing that the overwhelming consensus remains that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in preventing severe illness and death.

Public health specialists warn that even rumors of a vaccine ban could discourage people from getting recommended seasonal shots against flu, RSV, and COVID, increasing the risk of severe outbreaks. “Even just rumors are likely to reduce uptake,” said Dr. Jessica Holzer of the University of New Haven, as reported in Newsweek.

Confusion Among the Public

Experts fear that mixed signals from the Trump administration could deepen public uncertainty. “Scientific consensus is clear: vaccination benefits outweigh the risks for most people,” said Dr. Amy Bucher, chief behavioral officer at Lirio to Newsweek. She warned that wavering government positions risk eroding trust, fueling polarization, and emboldening conspiracy theories.

According to Bucher, emphasizing personal choice is key to easing resistance. “If people feel it’s their decision, they’re more open to information. But if vaccines are taken off the market entirely, it could spark stronger backlash and worsen public health outcomes.”

What’s Next

For now, the administration has not formally announced any policy changes. Still, Kennedy’s influence within HHS and Trump’s evolving rhetoric suggest the vaccine debate will remain a flashpoint in U.S. politics.

A petition to remove Kennedy from office continues to gather momentum, underscoring the fierce divide over vaccine policy. Whether speculation hardens into official action could shape not only America’s public health trajectory but also Trump’s political legacy.