Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) in Medical Microbiological Research and Diagnosis

"LAMP" or Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification is a simple, rapid, specific and costeffective nucleic acid amplification method that is characterized by the use of 6 different primers (3 different primer pairs) that are specifically designed to recognize 8 distinct regions on the target gene. LAMP amplification takes place at a constant temperature via a strand displacement reaction. Amplification and detection of genes can be completed in a single step, by incubating a mixture of samples, primers, a DNA polymerase (possessing DNA strand displacement activity) and accompanying substrates, at a constant temperature of 60 - 65°C. The high amplification efficiency of the LAMP process means that the presence of amplified products can be monitored by the naked eye either through visual turbidity or visual fluorescence. LAMP technology is emerging as a promising nucleic acid amplification tool that offers rapid, accurate, and cost-effective diagnosis of infectious diseases. The technology has already been developed into commercially available detection kits for a variety of pathogens including bacteria and viruses. Further, the combination of LAMP and novel microfluidic technologies may facilitate the realization of gene-based microbiological point-of-care testing systems, which may be available in both developed and developing countries in the near future.

Keywords: Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP), Isothermal Amplification, Loop Primers, Gene Quantification.