Unlocking the secrets of the human gut microbiota: Comprehensive review on its role in different diseases

Table 6 Current research gaps in understanding the gut microbiota’s role in disease and cancer

Sl No.	Aspect	Description	Ref.
1	Crosstalk with immune system	Microbiota interact with the immune system. Research should focus on how these interactions influence autoimmune diseases, allergies, and cancer	[160]
2	Impact of antibiotics and therapeutics	Antibiotics and medications alter microbiota. Understanding these effects is important for assessing long-term health consequences	[161]
3	Interaction with host genetics	Host genetics influence microbiota. Understanding these interactions is key to linking genetic predispositions with microbiota and disease risk	[162]
4	Mechanistic understanding	While correlations between microbiota and diseases exist, the mechanisms remain unclear. Future studies should explore specific microbial influences on disease	[163]
5	Microbial metabolites and signaling	Microbial metabolites affect host physiology. Identifying these metabolites and their role in disease modulation is crucial	[164]
6	Microbiota and cancer immunotherapy	Gut microbiota impact cancer immunotherapy efficacy, but mechanisms are poorly understood. Identifying beneficial microbial profiles is necessary	[165]
7	Microbiota in early life and development	Early microbiota establishment affects long-term health. Research should examine its impact on immune and metabolic development	[166]
8	Microbiota in extraintestinal diseases	Gut microbiota may influence non-gut diseases like cardiovascular and neurological disorders. Research is needed to explore these associations	[167]
9	Need for longitudinal studies	Most studies are cross-sectional; longitudinal research is needed to track microbiota changes over time in relation to disease	[168]
10	Role of diet and lifestyle	Diet and lifestyle significantly influence microbiota. Research should focus on how these factors affect microbiota and disease risk	[169]
11	Gender differences in microbiota	Gender-specific microbiota differences influence disease outcomes. Research should explore how these variations impact health between males and females	[170]
12	Variability in microbiota composition	Challenges arise due to factors like diet, genetics, and lifestyle. Research lacks comprehensive large-scale studies on these interactions	[171]