Conclusion
Our analyses of database coverage of sojourners belonging to the same
ethnicity with similar dietary habits, visiting different altitudes,
points to specifically to environmental conditions for changes in the
microbial profile, in addition to the sojourners intense physical
activities like climbing, excessive temperature fluctuations, isolation,
psychological stress, altitude changes, UV exposure, irregular feeding
and reduced fluids consumption. The appearance of higher abundance of
Prevotella could be one of the causative agents for high incidences of
inflammatory diseases at HA, which needs to be revealed in depth. It is
imperative to suggest that predicted pathways and correlation with
taxonomic abundances need further investigation in Indian population
visiting HA. Understanding how the microbiota varies across the
population, and correlating the variability with specific microbial
functions, is emerging as a component of personalized medicine. Future
studies are required to understand the extent of these altered gene
level patterns, particularly at strain level analyses, and targeted
treatment of energy metabolism disorders involving altered gut
microbiota at HA is need of the hour and of the highest priority for the
efforts. Various treatment modalities preferably involved are probiotic
intervention, change in the lifestyle, dietary habits and some
medications.