Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42792542›Full record

ReviewBiology2026

Mapping Bacteriophage-Based Antimicrobial Research in Southeast Asia: A Bibliometric Analysis of Scientific Productivity, Knowledge Structure, and Emerging Research Pathways.

Christian Joseph N Ong, Johnalie N Cabalbag, Jowi Tsidkenu Pili Cruz, Teodora T Valderama, Celia R Roslin, Carina M Magtibay, Janice Kaylyn K Lonogan, Amelda C Libres, Joel G Matamis, Jose Edwardo R Mamaat and 7 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Christian Joseph N OngDepartment of Biology, College of Science, De La Salle University, Manila 1004, Philippines.
Johnalie N CabalbagDepartment of Biology, College of Science, De La Salle University, Manila 1004, Philippines.
Jowi Tsidkenu Pili CruzDepartment of Biology, College of Science, De La Salle University, Manila 1004, Philippines.ORCID 0009-0000-9755-6352
Teodora T ValderamaDepartment of Medical Technology, College of Nursing, Cavite State University, Indang 4122, Philippines.
Celia R RoslinSchool of Medical Technology, Centro Escolar University, Manila 1001, Philippines.
Carina M MagtibayCollege of Allied Medical Professions, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Batangas 4200, Philippines.
Janice Kaylyn K LonoganSchool of Natural Sciences, University of Baguio, Baguio City 2600, Philippines.ORCID 0009-0001-7743-8196
Amelda C LibresCollege of Medical Laboratory Science, Liceo de Cagayan University, Cagayan de Oro City 9000, Philippines.
Joel G MatamisSchool of Medical Laboratory Sciences, St. Dominic College of Asia, Bacoor 4102, Philippines.
Jose Edwardo R MamaatDepartment of Medical Technology, Far Eastern University, Manila 1008, Philippines.
Ferdinand A MortelCollege of Medical Technology, Manila Central University, Caloocan 1400, Philippines.ORCID 0009-0008-6552-707X
Grace D BacalzoCollege of Allied Medical Sciences, Wesleyan University-Philippines, Cabanatuan City 3100, Philippines.
Kevin Smith P CabuhatBasic Education Department, La Consolacion University Philippines, Malolos 3000, Philippines.
Carlos S de LeonDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, Dr. Carlos S. Lanting College, Quezon City 1116, Philippines.
Jose Jurel M NuevoCollege of Medical Laboratory Science, Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela City 1440, Philippines.
Joel R AguilanCollege of Medical Technology, Calayan Educational Foundation, Inc., Lucena City 4301, Philippines.ORCID 0009-0000-4869-3924
Jamil Allen G FortalezaNational University, Sampaloc, Manila 1008, Philippines.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Southeast Asia faces a substantial burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), creating increasing interest in bacteriophage-based antimicrobial strategies. However, the regional development, contributors, collaboration patterns, and evolving research priorities of this field remain insufficiently characterized. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of Scopus-indexed publications on bacteriophage-based antimicrobial research affiliated with Southeast Asian countries from 1981 to 2025. Bibliometrix/Biblioshiny and VOSviewer were used to evaluate scientific production, citation patterns, leading contributors, collaboration networks, and conceptual and thematic development. A total of 862 publications were analyzed, with scientific output accelerating markedly after 2019 and reaching its highest level in 2025. Thailand emerged as the dominant regional contributor, with Vongkamjan (n = 21) and Surachat (n = 20) as the two most prolific authors. Mahidol University (n = 182), Prince of Songkla University (n = 142), and Universiti Putra Malaysia (n = 139) were the leading institutions, demonstrating a concentration of research capacity in Thailand and Malaysia. Scientific Reports was the most productive journal (30 publications), whereas Frontiers in Microbiology recorded the highest citation count among the leading sources (963 citations). Collaboration mapping revealed increasingly interconnected regional and international research networks. Thematic analyses demonstrated a transition from foundational and pathogen-specific investigations toward AMR, bacteriophage therapy, biofilm control, aquaculture, genomic and comparative genomic analysis, wastewater and public-health applications, and One Health-oriented research. Emerging topics included endolysins, quorum sensing, CRISPR-associated approaches, metagenomics, and genome-informed phage characterization. These findings demonstrate the rapid expansion and thematic diversification of bacteriophage-based antimicrobial research in Southeast Asia while highlighting persistent geographic concentration and the need for stronger regional infrastructure, collaboration, and translational capacity.

Indexed as

antimicrobial resistancebacteriophagebibliometric analysisphage therapyresearch trendsSoutheast Asia

Identifiers

PMID42792542
PMCPMC13604724

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.