VOLUME 19 (Supplement)

Bacteroides research in Southeast Asia (1995–2025): A bibliometric analysis of trends, themes, and gaps

Bacteroides spp. are among the most dominant members of the gut microbiota of homeothermic animals, surpassing commonly cited genera such as Escherichia, Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium. Their predominance supports their role as mutualists or commensals within the gastrointestinal tract. However, disruption of gut barrier integrity may allow Bacteroides to translocate to extraintestinal sites, where they can cause opportunistic infections. Moreover, Bacteroides species are notable for their high levels of clinical antimicrobial resistance and for harboring diverse resistance mechanisms among anaerobic gut bacteria. This study aimed to characterize regional research trends on Bacteroides through a bibliometric analysis of publications indexed in the Scopus database. All eligible original research articles on Bacteroides originating from Southeast Asian (SEA) countries were retrieved, and bibliographic and citation data were analyzed. Selected datasets were visualized using the CorText platform. A total of 113 Bacteroides-related research articles published between 1995 and 2025 were identified from SEA. Research output showed a marked increase beginning in 2019, peaking in 2023. Singapore and Thailand emerged as the leading contributors to Bacteroides research in the region, with Singapore also dominating in terms of productive institutions and individual authors. Moreover, the majority of the journals in which Bacteroides research was published were top-tier. The most highly cited article (TC = 2,375) was an international collaborative study led by a Singapore-based researcher and conducted in France. Frequently occurring keywords included “gut/fecal microbiome,” “resistance gene(s),” “microbial source tracking,” and "fecal pollution.” Overall, this bibliometric analysis of the Bacteroides research landscape in SEA underscores the relatively limited volume and scope of studies in the region. The findings highlight the need to expand research efforts toward a more comprehensive understanding of Bacteroides epidemiology, ecology, and clinical relevance beyond the gut microbiome context.