The Significance of Dysbiosis in the Gut Microbiome to HCV Infection and Disease Progression

Abstract

With the development of science and technology, the amazing function of gut microbiota is being understood more and more each day. A person's physiological, metabolic, and even mental health are all touched by a tiny imbalance in the intestinal microbial community. It has been suggested that such microbiome dysbiosis contributes to the development of a variety of microbial infections, including bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and even viral infections. Throughout time, quite a few connections between gut microbiota and other parameters were found. The significance of the gut microbiome in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and disease development is the main topic of this review study. Millions of individuals are affected by HCV worldwide, which is a serious public health issue. Recent research has demonstrated that the pathophysiology of HCV infection and its associated illnesses, such as liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, heavily depends on the status of the gut microbiome. The current state of knowledge regarding the gut microbiome and its interactions with HCV is summarized in this review, along with information on the effects of HCV on gut microbial diversity, potential mechanisms by which gut microbes affect HCV pathogenesis and the therapeutic potential of focusing on the gut microbiome in HCV-infected patients. On the contrary, it also covered how the gut microbiome can be modulated. We also talked about the shortcomings and difficulties of the current knowledge of the gut microbiota in HCV infection and proposed future research options in this area. Overall, this work highlights the significance of the gut microbiome in HCV infection and suggests that it may be a therapeutic target for HCV-related liver diseases.