Global Trends in Loop Mediated Isothermal Applications in Poor Resource Countries

Abstract

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has been employed in various research studies range from point of care in detection and identification of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. It is a relatively simple and low-cost technique compared to traditional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. These advantages make LAMP a useful tool for pathogens detection and research, particularly in poor resource countries. The objective of this study was to assess the global trend in LAMP applications in poor resource countries. We investigated bibliometric data on LAMPApplications research published in PUBMED from October 20^th, 2004, to October 20^th, 2024. The selected study period was based on the areas that all research related to in the globe. The search was conducted on April 2, 2025. Utilizing advanced search features in PUBMED, we employed “MESH” terms for “Loop mediated Isothermal Amplification Applications” and “LAMP Applications” and incorporated the following keywords [Title/Abstract]: “Poor resource countries” or “Rich resource countries” or “Low-income economic countries” or “High income economic countries” and “Worldwide”. The high productive countries were found in Japan 103 (11.8%), followed by United States of America 100 (11.4%), China 69 (7.9%), Iran 61(6.9%), United Kingdom 52 (5.9%), and the least was observed in Africa. The Infectious diseases research collaboration, Kampala, Uganda emerged as the leading institution (n= 28), followed by the Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, the third affiliated hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou China (n= 12), and Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda (n=8) respectively. The leading first-third authors in LAMP Applications research include

Sugimoto, Chihiro (n = 10); Namangala, Boniface (n=9) and Dorsey, Grant (n=9). Although, Dorsey, Grant (from Joint University of California San Francisco, San Francisco) held the 2nd position for the most productive author based on principal author analysis (n=9) and ranked as the 1st most collaborative author (n = 42), while Sugimoto, Chihiro secured the 2nd highest total link strength (n = 41). The hotspot analysis of author keywords include: Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques explored bacterial and fungal diseases; viral related diseases; Malarial parasites; food contamination and bacterial zoonotic diseases and trematodes and helminth diseases. The prevalence rate of publications on LAMP applications is higher among rich resource countries and lower among poor resource countries. The lower prevalence rate of publication output on LAMP application research among poor resource countries can be attributed to insufficient financial resources that can hinder research initiatives, equipment purchases, and personnel hiring. Poor resource countries might have restricted access to scientific literature, databases, and collaborations.