LAMP in Neglected Tropical Diseases: A Focus on Parasites

Abstract

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), particularly those caused by parasites, remain a major Public Health problem in tropical and subtropical regions, with 10% of the world population being infected. Their management and control have been traditionally hampered, among other factors, by the difficulty to deploy rapid, specific, and affordable diagnostic tools in low resource settings. This is especially true for complex PCR-based methods. Isothermal nucleic acid amplification techniques, particularly loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), appeared in the early 21st century as an alternative to PCR, allowing for a much more affordable molecular diagnostic. Here, we present the status of LAMP assays development in parasite-caused NTDs. We address the progress made in different research applications of the technique: xenomonitoring, epidemiological studies, work in animal models and clinical application both for diagnosis and evaluation of treatment success. Finally, we try to shed a light on the improvements needed to achieve a true point-of-care test and the future perspectives in this field.

Nanoparticle-Based Lateral Flow Biosensor Integrated With Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification for Rapid and Visual Identification of Chlamydia trachomatis for Point-of-Care Use

“…The primer set contains two outer primers (F3 and B3), two inner primers (FIP and BIP), and two loop primers (LF and LB) (Panno et al, 2020 ). Typically, four primers (F3, B3, FIP, and BIP) are enough to amplify a target fragment and improve its efficiency and specificity, while the two loop primers are added to the LAMP amplification system (Augustine et al, 2020 ; García-Bernalt Diego et al, 2021 ). In addition, a Bst DNA polymerase with chain displacement capability is critical for LAMP amplification at a fixed temperature (Notomi et al, 2000 ).…”

Distance-based paper device using combined SYBR safe and gold nanoparticle probe LAMP assay to detect Leishmania among patients with HIV

“…Unlike RDTs such as malaria and VL strip tests, LAMP reaction required initial DNA for detection; therefore, DNA extraction is inevitable in the LAMP as well as all NAAT techniques. Various simplified methods have been successfully modified and adapted to the assays to overcome the limitations of the LAMP assay in field sites, for example, selective colorimetric and fluorescent dyes 11 , 14 , 16 , 43 , colorimetric precipitate AuNP-probes 13 , 15 , lyophilized forms 44 , paper-based devices 12 and dye capsules 45 , 46 . Recently, the semi-quantitative LAMP assay was successfully developed to detect E. coli in urine using inexpensive filter paper fabrication of dPAD 12 .…”

SMART-LAMP: A Smartphone-Operated Handheld Device for Real-Time Colorimetric Point-of-Care Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases via Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification

“…Considering the REASSURED criteria [ 8 ] as the benchmark to assess POCT, the SMART-LAMP is a real-time connected, affordable solution for sensitive and specific NAAT analysis. It is based on LAMP technology, which has already largely proven its speed and robustness [ 12 , 60 ]. Relying on ready-to-use reaction mixes and a simple smartphone app interface, it is user-friendly and highly deliverable.…”

“…LAMP, together with other isothermal amplification techniques, overcomes some of the shortcomings classic NAATs present, particularly speed and price limitations. Nevertheless, other limitations, such as user-friendliness, equipment or deliverability, need supportive technology to be fulfilled [ 12 ].…”