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.

Since 2013 we  have been actively involved in Yaws research activities through collaborative research with the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC, Atlanta), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ghana National Yaws Eradication Program and the Ghana Health Service with support from the Spanish NGO, Anesvad Foundation.

 STAFF

Prof. Kennedy K.  Addo, DVM, PhD (HOD)   Professor
Prof. Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, 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,                                      Research Fellow
Dr. Isaac Darko Otchere, PhD                    Research Fellow
Dr. Nana Ama Amissah, PhD.                      Research Fellow
Ms. Vida Yirenkyiwaa Adjei, MPhil.              Research Fellow
Ms. Emelia Konadu Danso, MPhil.               Research Fellow
Mr. Kwaku Owusu Darko, MPhil                  Chief Research Assistant
Ms. Gifty Wemakor, MPhil                            Principal Admin. Assistant
Mr. Samuel Ofori Addo, MPhil                      Senior Research Assistant
Mr. Stephen Osei-Wusu, MPhil                    Senior Research Assistant
Ms. Shirley Victoria Simpson, MPhil            Senior Research Assistant
Ms. Vida Yirenkyiwaa Adjei, BSc                 Senior Research Assistant
Mr. Prince Asare, BSc                                   Senior Research Assistant
Ms.Samira Mahazu , MPhil                          Research Assistant
Mr. Lorenzo Akyeh, MSC                             Principal Technician
Mr. Christian Bonsu, BSc                             Principal Technician
Ms. Emelia Konadu Danso, BSc                  Assistant Technologist
Mr. Edmund Bedeley, BSc                           Research Assistant
Ms. Ivy Amanor, BSc                                  Research Assistant
Ms. Portia Morgan , BSc                            Research Assistant
Mr.William Amoah, GCE `O`                     Technical Assistant
Mr. Emmanuel Asare                                 Driver