Loop-mediated isothermal amplification: Beyond microbial identification

Versatility of reverse transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) from diagnosis of early pathological infection to mutation detection in organisms

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a rapid, state-of-the-art DNA amplification technology, used primarily for the quick diagnosis and early identification of microbial infection, caused by pathogens such as virus, bacteria and malaria. A target DNA can be amplified within 30 min using the LAMP reaction, taking place at a steady temperature. The LAMP method uses four or six primers to bind eight regions of a target DNA and has a very high specificity. The devices used for conducting LAMP are usually simple since the LAMP method is an isothermal process. When LAMP is coupled with Reverse Transcription (RT), it allows direct detection of RNA in a sample. This greatly enhances the efficiency of diagnosis of RNA viruses in a sample. Recently, the rampant spread of COVID-19 demanded such a rapid, simple, and cost-effective Point of Care Test (PoCT) for the accurate diagnosis of this pandemic. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays are not only used for the detection of microbial pathogens, but there are various other applications such as detection of genetic mutations in food and various organisms. In this review, various implementations of RT-LAMP techniques would be discussed.

Nanotechnology-based Colorimetric Approaches for Pathogenic Virus Sensing: A review

Fast and inexpensive virus identification protocols are paramount to hinder the further extent of pandemic diseases, minimize economic and social damages, and expedite proper clinical rehabilitation. Until now, various biosensors have been fabricated for the identification of pathogenic particles. But, they offer many difficulties. Nanotechnology resolves these difficulties and offers direct identification of pathogenic species in real-time. Among them, nanomaterial based-colorimetric sensing approach of pathogenic viruses by the naked eye has attracted much awareness because of their simplicity, speed, and low cost. In this review, the latest tendencies and advancements are overviewed in detecting pathogenic viruses using colorimetric concepts. We focus on and reconsider the use of distinctive nanomaterials such as metal nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide, and conducting polymer to form colorimetric pathogenic virus sensors.

Ultrasensitive Detection of 17β-Estradiol (E2) Based on Multistep Isothermal Amplification

17β-Estradiol (E2) can cause an adverse effect on the human endocrine system even at the nanomolar level. Measurements of very low levels of E2 remain a critical challenge due to insufficient sensitivity. In this study, a multistep isothermal amplification fluorescence strategy was constructed, which could realize the exponential amplification of target E2. Specifically, strand displacement reaction (SDA), rolling circle amplification (RCA), and multiprimed rolling circle amplification (MRCA) were combined in a series to quantify trace complementary strand of E2 (cDNA). The E2 aptamer and cDNA were hybridized and modified on the magnetic beads. E2 could bind to its aptamer and cause the release of the cDNA. Then, cDNA would combine with the template DNA, initiating the SDA-RCA-MRCA. The molecular beacons, possessing low background signal, whose fluorescence was quenched in the state of chain folding, could be specifically recognized by the long single-stranded DNA (L-ssDNA) generated by the multistep isothermal amplification triggered by cDNA, and then the fluorescence of the molecular beacons could be restored. Therefore, the E2 could be quantitatively detected by the recovery fluorescence intensity. The fluorescence value showed a good linear relationship with the concentration of E2 in the range of 0.001836-183.6 nM, and the limit of detection (LOD) was as low as 63.09 fM. In addition, the recovery rates of this method spiked in milk and water were 80.8-107.0%, respectively. This method has the advantage of multistep isothermal amplification to obtain abundant fluorescence signals, which may provide a new possibility for highly sensitive detection of other small-molecule targets.

Water safety screening via multiplex LAMP-Au-nanoprobe integrated approach

Contaminated water resources remain a major global concern regarding public health. The majority of water safety protocols include indicators of microbial contamination to evaluate the potential risk to public health and are key elements of quality guidelines. Among these, markers for total coliforms and fecal coliforms are strong indicators of co-contamination with other pathogens. Traditional methods, recurring to slow and cumbersome culture-based approaches, have been gradually replaced by molecular methods, capable of faster and more specific screening. These are usually PCR-based methods that may allow for multiple pathogen detection but require dedicated laboratory equipment, hindering the rapid on-site assessment. Here, we used a multiplex Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (mLAMP) strategy for the amplification of two markers associated with the contamination by total and fecal coliforms (e.g. Escherichia coli) - lacZ and uidA genes, respectively - thus allowing for single tube multiplex detection. The mLAMP products were then subject to an Au-nanoprobe colorimetric detection assay for precise discrimination of targets. This approach was validated in 22 water samples that were also screened for the presence of lacZ and uidA using standard and quantitative PCR, with the capability for discriminating the contamination level, e.g. a semi-quantitative evaluation of water quality.

Combination of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification and AuNP-Oligoprobe Colourimetric Assay for Pork Authentication in Processed Meat Products

Pork adulteration is a major concern for Muslims and Jews whose diets are restricted by religious beliefs, as well as those who are allergic to pork meat and its derivatives. Accurate pork authentication is of great importance to assist this demographic group of people in making decision on their product purchase. The aim of this study was to develop a new analytical method for pork authentication in processed meat products based on a combination of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and AuNP-nanoprobe colourimetric assay. The LAMP conditions were first optimised to obtain the highest yield of amplified DNA products within the shortest time. Oligoprobe-functionalised AuNPs were then hybridised with LAMP-DNA amplicons and subsequently challenged with MgSO4 at a high concentration to induce AuNP aggregation. In the presence of pork DNA, the colloidal AuNP-probe remained unchanged in its red colour, which indicates the dispersion of AuNPs. In contrast, in the absence of pork DNA, the colour was changed to colourless as a result from the aggregation of AuNPs. The LAMP-AuNP-nanoprobe assay offers a high sensitivity with a limit of detection as low as 100 pg of pork DNA. The assay is highly specific to pork content without cross-reactivity with the other meat species tested. The assay developed herein can become a simple, inexpensive, precise, and rapid analytical tool for small laboratories or the general public interested in halal food authentication.

Development of Anti-Idiotypic Nanobody-Phage Based Immuno-Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for Aflatoxins in Peanuts

Aflatoxin contamination in agricultural products has posed serious health hazards and brought huge economic loss in the food and feed industries. Monitoring aflatoxins in various foods and feeds has become a crucial means to protect public health. This study aimed to report an immuno-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (iLAMP) assay by using an anti-idiotypic nanobody-phage for on-site and rapid detection of aflatoxin in real samples. The iLAMP method was developed on the basis of a competitive immunoassay and LAMP reaction performed in a simple water bath. This method can provide visualized test results: violet color represents positive samples while sky blue represents negative. The visual detection limits of iLAMP for aflatoxin B₁, B₂, G₁, and G₂ in peanut samples were 1.6, 1.6, 3.2, and 16 μg/kg, respectively. The developed assay was verified with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the analysis of aflatoxins in peanuts, which demonstrated that the iLAMP method can be applied to the detection of aflatoxin in real samples. The novel iLAMP assay eliminates the need for aflatoxin conjugates, the antibody labeling process, and special equipment, and offers an alternative to existing methods with advantages of time-saving, cost-effectiveness, and ease-of-use.

Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification: A Promising Tool for Screening Genetic Mutations

Mutation screening is elemental for clinical diagnosis and in determining therapeutic strategies. Nucleic acid-based techniques are considered to be the most accurate tools in genetic diagnosis. One such technique is loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay, which has seen tremendous applications in recent years. The advantages of the assay lie in its rapidity, efficiency, sensitivity, and cost. It works in isothermal conditions and amplifies the target gene using DNA polymerases that have strand displacement activity. To date, the assay has been widely used in different fields of research, including pathogen detection, crop development, and disease diagnosis. However, despite the potential, its application in mutation screening has been minimal. This review highlights the LAMP assay and its variants that have been developed for screening single-nucleotide polymorphisms and gene translocations in cancer.

Application of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for the Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae

The loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is one of the most widely used isothermal nucleic acid amplification techniques due to it its simplicity and adaptability within limited resource or point-of-care settings. Here, LAMP was utilized for the rapid amplification and detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Direct and Rapid Detection and Quantification of Oenococcus oeni Cells in Wine by Cells-LAMP and Cells-qLAMP

Fast detection and enumeration of Oenococcus oeni in winemaking are necessary to determine whether malolactic fermentation (MLF) is likely to be performed or not and to decide if the use of a commercial starter is needed. In other wines, however, performing MLF can be detrimental for wine and should be avoided. The traditional identification and quantification of this bacteria using culture-dependent techniques in wine-related matrices require up to 14 days to yield results, which can be a very long time to perform possible enological operations. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a novel culture-independent technique that amplifies nucleic acid sequences under isothermal conditions with high specificity and efficiency in less than 1 h with inexpensive equipment. We designed LAMP primers for the specific detection and quantification of O. oeni cells. The developed LAMP method allows O. oeni to be detected directly from both grape musts and wines within 1 h from the time that the LAMP reaction begins, and without DNA extraction and purification requirements. The high sensitivity of LAMP methodology is achieved by previous mechanical cells lysis with no further purification by detecting one single cell per reaction in culture media, and in white/red grape musts and wines by avoiding reaction inhibition by ethanol, polyphenols, and other wine inhibitors. Cells can be concentrated prior to the LAMP reaction to further increase this sensitivity. Moreover, the LAMP method does not require expensive equipment and can be easily operated. The developed method is both economic and fast and offers high sensitivity and specificity.

Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification for Salmonella Detection in Food and Feed: Current Applications and Future Directions

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has become a powerful alternative to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for pathogen detection in clinical specimens and food matrices. Nontyphoidal Salmonella is a zoonotic pathogen of significant food and feed safety concern worldwide. The first study employing LAMP for the rapid detection of Salmonella was reported in 2005, 5 years after the invention of the LAMP technology in Japan. This review provides an overview of international efforts in the past decade on the development and application of Salmonella LAMP assays in a wide array of food and feed matrices. Recent progress in assay design, platform development, commercial application, and method validation is reviewed. Future perspectives toward more practical and wider applications of Salmonella LAMP assays in food and feed testing are discussed.

Comparison of loop-mediated isothermal amplification with hyperbranched rolling circle amplification as a simple detection method for Heterosigma akashiwo

The fish-killing alga Heterosigma akashiwo is a globally distributed, toxic, and bloom-forming raphidophyte that has caused great losses to the fishing industry in many coastal countries. Therefore, rapid and sensitive detection methods should be developed to present timely warning of harmful algal blooms. In this study, hyperbranched rolling circle amplification (HRCA) was established for the detection of H. akashiwo and compared with loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) in terms of specificity and sensitivity. The partial D1-D2 sequence of the large subunit (LSU) of rDNA of H. akashiwo was used to design a specific padlock probe for HRCA and two pairs of specific primers for LAMP. The parameters for HRCA were optimized. Cross-reactivity tests showed that the specificity of the developed HRCA for H. akashiwo was greater than that of LAMP in this study. The sensitivities of HRCA and LAMP were comparable and were 10-fold higher than that of regular PCR. These methods also yielded a detection limit of 20 fg/μL for the recombinant plasmid containing the target LSU D1-D2 and 1 cell for target species. The test with the simulated field samples indicated that the developed HRCA obtained a detection limit of 5 cells mL^-1, which was lower than the warning cell density (100 cells mL^-1) of H. akashiwo. The visual detection of positive HRCA could be achieved via coloration reaction with the addition of fluorescent SYBR Green I dye to the amplification products. The developed HRCA was also efficient for field samples with target cell densities ranging from 10 cells mL^-1 to 1000 cells mL^-1. Therefore, the proposed HRCA detection protocols are possibly applicable to the field monitoring of H. akashiwo.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) shield for Arduino DNA detection

OBJECTIVE

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) of DNA is gaining relevance as a method to detect nucleic acids, as it is easier, faster, and more powerful than conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction. However, LAMP is still mostly used in laboratory settings, because of the lack of a cheap and easy, one-button device that can perform LAMP experiments.

RESULTS

Here we show how to build and program an Arduino shield for a LAMP and detection of DNA. The here described Arduino Shield is cheap, easy to assemble, to program and use, it is battery operated and the detection of DNA is done by naked-eye so that it can be used in field.

Development of LAMP assays for the molecular detection of taeniid infection in canine in Tibetan rural area

For field-identification of taeniid cestodes in canine animals in Tibetan area, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays for Echinococcus multilocularis, E. shiquicus, Taenia hydatigena, T. multiceps, T. pisiformis and T. crassiceps were developed and evaluated along with the reported assay for E. granulosus. The LAMP assays showed specific reaction with their corresponding target species DNA with the detection limit of 1 to 10 pg. Moreover, the assays for E. granulosus, E. multilocularis, T. hydatigena and T. multiceps could detect DNA extracted from 3 or more eggs of their corresponding target species. Then, the LAMP assays were applied on samples containing 3 to 35 taeniid eggs obtained from 61 field-collected canine feces in Qinghai, and the result was compared with a reported multiplex PCR and sequence analysis. The LAMP assays and the PCR detected single species DNA of E. granulosus, E. shiquicus, T. hydatigena and T. multiceps in 5, 2, 44 and 2 samples, respectively. In the rest 8 samples, DNA of both E. granulosus and T. hydatigena were detected by the PCR but the LAMP assays detected those DNAs in 2 samples and only T. hydatigena DNA in 6 samples. It was assumed that less than 3 E. granulosus eggs were mixed in the samples although the samples contained 21 to 27 eggs in total. In conclusion, the LAMP assays were less sensitive than the multiplex PCR, but would have adequate sensitivity for field use in Tibetan area.