Application of Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification Technology in Microbial Source Tracking

Microbial contamination of water bodies, caused by bacteria, pathogens, and viruses from human or animal feces, poses significant risks to public health and ecosystems. Timely and accurate identification of contamination sources is essential for effective control measures. Microbial source tracking (MST) addresses this need by detecting specific gene fragments or characteristic microbial communities within gut microbiota, providing critical information for controlling pollution. However, conventional MST methods depend heavily on laboratory infrastructure, skilled personnel, and costly equipment, which limits their speed and reduces the accuracy of both qualitative and quantitative source identification. In recent years, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has attracted much attention in nucleic acid amplification due to its high efficiency, sensitivity, and high specificity, providing a new detection tool for MST. This paper provides a brief overview of the principles and characteristics of MST and LAMP, highlights recent research on the application of LAMP-based MST in water quality monitoring, food safety assessment, and detection of intestinal pathogens, and discusses future research directions. The goal is to provide technical support for pollution detection and source tracking.