Cited by 198Malaria Research and ControlBiosensors and Analytical DetectionMolecular Biology Techniques and Applications

Real-Time Fluorescence Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification for the Diagnosis of Malaria

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Lucchi, Naomi W., Demas, Allison, Narayanan, Jothikumar, Sumari, Deborah, Kabanywanyi, Abdunoor, Kachur, S. Patrick, Barnwell, John W., Udhayakumar, Venkatachalam·2010·PLoS ONE

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Molecular diagnostic methods can complement existing tools to improve the diagnosis of malaria. However, they require good laboratory infrastructure thereby restricting their use to reference laboratories and research studies. Therefore, adopting molecular tools for routine use in malaria endemic countries will require simpler molecular platforms. The recently developed loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method is relatively simple and can be improved for better use in endemic countries. In this study, we attempted to improve this method for malaria diagnosis by using a simple and portable device capable of performing both the amplification and detection (by fluorescence) of LAMP in one platform. We refer to this as the RealAmp method. METHODOLOGY AND SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS: Published genus-specific primers were used to test the utility of this method. DNA derived from different species of malaria parasites was used for the initial characterization. Clinical samples of P. falciparum were used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of this system compared to microscopy and a nested PCR method. Additionally, directly boiled parasite preparations were compared with a conventional DNA isolation method. The RealAmp method was found to be simple and allowed real-time detection of DNA amplification. The time to amplification varied but was generally less than 60 minutes. All human-infecting Plasmodium species were detected. The sensitivity and specificity of RealAmp in detecting P. falciparum was 96.7% and 91.7% respectively, compared to microscopy and 98.9% and 100% respectively, compared to a standard nested PCR method. In addition, this method consistently detected P. falciparum from directly boiled blood samples. CONCLUSION: This RealAmp method has great potential as a field usable molecular tool for diagnosis of malaria. This tool can provide an alternative to conventional PCR based diagnostic methods for field use in clinical and operational programs.

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Crossref · 10.1371/journal.pone.0013733

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  • Several studies reported high sensitivity and specificity of LAMP compared with microscopy or PCR in nonpregnant populations.

    “Several studies that compared the LAMP method to microscopy, PCR and RDT, reported high sensitivity and specificity compared with microscopy or PCR in nonpregnant populations [34–37].”

    From Diagnosing malaria in pregnancy: An update (2012) · cites this paper as [36]

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Authors
Lucchi, N. W., Demas, A., Narayanan, J., Sumari, D., Kabanywanyi, A., Kachur, S. P., Barnwell, J. W., & Udhayakumar, V.
Affiliations
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
  • Ifakara Health Institute (TZ)
Corresponding author
Lucchi, Naomi W.
Venue
PLoS ONE
Published
2010-10-29
Volume
5
Issue
10
Pages
e13733
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1991198490
Cited by
198
References
23
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 29 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 16
FWCI
11.13
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Association of Public Health Laboratories
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Malaria Research and Control
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Biosensors and Analytical Detection
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications
Keywords
malaria diagnosis, loop-mediated isothermal amplification, real-time fluorescence detection, portable diagnostic device, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium species detection, sensitivity and specificity
MeSH terms
Animals, Fluorescence, Humans, Malaria, Plasmodium, Sensitivity and Specificity, DNA, Protozoan, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Molecular Diagnostic Techniques

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