Susceptibility Genes in Autism Spectrum Disorders

The main objective of the study is to define, for Autism Spectrum Disorder, the extent of genetic variation in synaptic pathways that may be targeted for therapeutic development. For this purpose the investigators will take advantage of large, well-characterized cohorts of patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder for genetic screenings. Targeted sequencing of selected synaptic genes, previously associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder, will be carried out in these cohorts with deep coverage of coding regions and a strong focus on previously untested regulatory regions. Genomic data from Copy Number Variant, whole genome sequencing and exome sequencing, available for some of these patients, will be integrated in the overall analysis. The investigators will strongly emphasize the establishment of comprehensive genotype/phenotype correlations and set up an induced Pluripotent Stem Cells collection from selected patients with synaptic mutations for functional and expression analysis.

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis for Autism Spectrum Disorders or Autism using the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) criteria for autism and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-G) criteria Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with profound intellectual disability or with a known medical cause of autism, such as neurocutaneous syndromes, Fragile X, metabolic disorders, extreme prematurity, congenital rubella and other prenatal or postnatal neurological infections or gross dysmorphology, will be excluded