Targeted Therapy for Gut Microbiota: Candidates for a Novel Strategy to Ameliorate Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The gut microbiota is characterised by substantial diversity and exerts profound regulatory effects on human physiology (Vemuri et al. 2020). A delicate balance is maintained between 
beneficial and harmful bacteria within the gut microbiota; when this equilibrium is disrupted, resulting in an increase in harmful bacteria and a decrease in beneficial bacteria, disease 
may ensue. The gut microbiota has a broad potential for application in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of various diseases. Studies have indicated that dysbiosis of gut microbiota 
is associated with T2DM (Chen, Liu, et  al. 2023). Substantial research has demonstrated significant alterations in the gut microbiota of T2DM patients compared with healthy individuals (Ting Ye et al. 2020; Wu et al. 2010; Wu and Park 2022). Commensal fungi and opportunistic pathogens stimulate the local immune system and increase intestinal permeability, leading to a “leaky gut”. This, in turn, triggers systemic inflammation and contributes to the development of insulin resistance (IR) (Chen, Chen, and Fu 2023). Furthermore, metabolites produced by the gutmicrobiota, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bile acids (BAs), and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), have been implicated in the pathogenesis of T2DM (Wu, Yang, et al. 2023). Consequently, modulating the metabolites of the gut microbiota is regarded as an effective approach for treating T2DM.

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