Pediatric neuropsychiatric syndromes associated with infection and microbiome alterations: clinical findings, possible role of the mucosal epithelium, and strategies for the development of new animal models

“Although data from existing animal models are consistent with an important role for anti-neuronal antibodies in PANS triggered by GAS infection, we lack models for identifying pathophysiological mechanisms of PANS associated with other infectious and non-infectious triggers. The authors propose a strategy for developing such models that incorporates known vulnerability and triggering factors for PANS into the modeling process. This novel strategy should expand our understanding of the pathophysiology of PANS, as well as facilitate the development of new pharmacological treatments for PANS and related syndromes.”