The Bacteriology Department aims to improve the quality of life first for Ghanaians and the world at large by conducting research into bacterial diseases of public health importance to Ghana and globally.

In addition to working on enteric pathogens and sexually transmitted diseases, the department’s current main focus is on the two most important mycobacterial diseases of public health importance to Ghana, namely Buruli ulcer (BU) and tuberculosis (TB). The department in collaboration with other research partners is contributing to the global fight against TB and BU by conducting studies that aim to contribute to the control of these diseases by improving understanding of disease epidemiology, genetic diversity within the causative agent, host-pathogen interactions and laboratory diagnosis. In order to make our research findings beneficial for disease control, we work closely with endemic communities and these field activities are carried out in close collaboration with the respective national control programmes and district health management team of the Ghana Health Service.

Our work involves collection/receiving of pathological samples, bacteriological culture and conventional characterisation as well as genomic diversity analysis. Within our TB research, we have established active DNA fingerprinting, using methods such as spoligotyping, MIRU/VNTR, RD and SNP, analysis as well as mutational analysis in drug target genes. Thus our laboratory serves as reference laboratories for both TB and BU, and also gives us the capacity to be involved in the evaluation of effectiveness of interventions such as diagnostics and vaccines.

The Department in its role as the National TB Reference Laboratory is involved in the organization and maintenance of the National TB Laboratory Network, development of training manuals and organization of laboratory training and implementation of nationwide TB laboratory Quality Assurance, and anti-TB drug resistance surveillance.

STAFF

Prof. Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, PhD Professor

Prof. Kennedy K. Addo, DVM, PhD Professor

Dr. Anthony S. Ablordey , PhD Senior Research Fellow

Dr. Gloria Ivy Mensah, PhD Research Fellow

Dr. Adwoa Asante-Poku Wiredu , PhD Research Fellow

Dr. Beverly Egyir, PhD Research Fellow

Kwaku Owusu Darko, MPhil Chief Research Assistant

Isaac Darko Otchere, MPhil Principal Research Assistant

Samuel Yaw Aboagye, MPhil Principal Research Assistant

Nana Ama Amissah, MPhil Senior Research Assistant

Samuel Ofori Addo, MPhil Senior Research Assistant

Stephen Osei-Wusu, Mhil Senior Research Assistant

Gifty Wemakor, MPhil Principal Administrative Assistant

Vida Yirenkyiwaa Adjei, BSc Senior Research Assistant

Shirley Victoria Simpson, BSc Senior Research Assistant

Prince Asare, BSc Senior Research Assistant

Lorenzo Akyeh, MSC Principal Technician

Christian Bonsu, BSc Principal Technician

Emelia Konadu Danso, BSc Assistant Technologist

Edmund Bedeley, BSc Research Assistant

Samira Mahazu , BSc Research Assistant

Ivy Amanor, BSc Research Assistant

Felicia Amoah Owusu , BSc Research Assistant
Doris Aboagyewaa Boampong, BSc Research Assistant
William Amoah, GCE `O` Technical Assistant

Emmanuel Asare Driver