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.