Table 2.
Challenges and solutions for limitations in SIV/HIV microbiota research
| Research barrier | Specific challenge | Proposed solution |
|---|---|---|
| Complexity of microbial interactions | Difficulty in understanding interactions, causality vs. correlation issues | Enhanced multidisciplinary studies, advanced computational modeling coupled with experimental validations |
| Incomplete definition of a healthy microbiota | Lack of consensus on “healthy” microbiome, variability across populations | Standardized guidelines for microbiota research, global collaborative research |
| Individual variability in microbiome | Inter-individual differences, standardization issues | Personalized medicine approaches, large-scale population studies |
| Confounding effects of sexual practices | Isolating effects of HIV beyond confounders | Targeted research on sexual behavior impacts, controlled study designs |
| Confounding effects of geographical and dietary factors | Regional microbiome variation, generalization challenges | Cross-cultural studies, inclusion of diverse dietary patterns in research |
| Interactions with ART | ART-microbiome interplay, regimen variability | Comprehensive ART-microbiome interaction studies, standardized ART protocols |
| Limited longitudinal data | Scarcity of long-term studies, safety and efficacy assessments | Longitudinal study designs, posttreatment follow-up studies |
| Ethical and clinical trial constraints to study microbial interactions in tissue | Ethical concerns with invasive studies, clinical trial complexities | Develop innovative noninvasive techniques to sample tissues |
| Lack of standardized methodologies | Methodological differences, standardization need in proteomics and metabolomics | Development of universal protocols, collaborative methodological research |
| Technological and analytical challenges | Limitations in technology to understand the microbiota, data analysis complexities | Investment in advanced analytical tools, collaboration with data scientists |
| Generalizability of findings | Difficulty in applying findings broadly, microbiome composition variations | Multicentric studies, inclusion of diverse participant profiles |
| Interdisciplinary integration | Need for integrated research, coordination challenges | Interdisciplinary research programs, collaborative platforms |
| Funding and resource allocation | Limited funding, resource prioritization | Advocacy for increased funding, diversification of funding sources |