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Frempong NA, Mama A, Adu B, Kusi KA, Ofori MF, Ahiabor C, Anyan WK, Debrah AY, Anang AA, Ndam NT, Courtin D. Antibody response to malaria vaccine candidates in pregnant women with Plasmodium falciparum and Schistosoma haematobium infections. Parasite Immunol 2024; 46:e13027. [PMID: 38587985 DOI: 10.1111/pim.13027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Malaria in pregnancy has severe consequences for the mother and foetus. Antibody response to specific malaria vaccine candidates (MVC) has been associated with a decreased risk of clinical malaria and its outcomes. We studied Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) and Schistosoma haematobium (Sh) infections and factors that could influence antibody responses to MVC in pregnant women. A total of 337 pregnant women receiving antenatal care (ANC) and 139 for delivery participated in this study. Pf infection was detected by qPCR and Sh infection using urine filtration method. Antibody levels against CSP, AMA-1, GLURP-R0, VAR2CSA and Pfs48/45 MVC were quantified by ELISA. Multivariable linear regression models identified factors associated with the modulation of antibody responses. The prevalence of Pf and Sh infections was 27% and 4% at ANC and 7% and 4% at delivery. Pf infection, residing in Adidome and multigravidae were positively associated with specific IgG response to CSP, AMA-1, GLURP-R0 and VAR2CSA. ITN use and IPTp were negatively associated with specific IgG response to GLURP-R0 and Pfs48/45. There was no association between Sh infection and antibody response to MVC at ANC or delivery. Pf infections in pregnant women were positively associated with antibody response to CSP, GLURP-R0 and AMA-1. Antibody response to GLURP-R0 and Pfs48/45 was low for IPTp and ITN users. This could indicate a lower exposure to Pf infection and low malaria prevalence observed at delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naa Adjeley Frempong
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Atikatou Mama
- Inserm U 1016, Institut Cochin, Université de, Paris, France
| | - Bright Adu
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Kwadwo Asamoah Kusi
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Michael F Ofori
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Charity Ahiabor
- Science Laboratory Department, Accra Technical University, Accra, Ghana
| | - William K Anyan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Alex Yaw Debrah
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Abraham A Anang
- Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS), University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Nicaise T Ndam
- UMR 216 MERIT, IRD, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - David Courtin
- UMR 216 MERIT, IRD, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
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Tiono AB, Plieskatt JL, Ouedraogo A, Soulama BI, Miura K, Bougouma EC, Naghizadeh M, Barry A, Yaro JBB, Ezinmegnon S, Henry N, Ofori EA, Adu B, Singh SK, Konkobo A, Lövgren Bengtsson K, Diarra A, Carnrot C, Reimer JM, Ouedraogo A, Tienta M, Long CA, Ouedraogo IN, Sagara I, Sirima SB, Theisen M. A randomized first-in-human phase I trial of differentially adjuvanted Pfs48/45 malaria vaccines in Burkinabé adults. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e175707. [PMID: 38290009 PMCID: PMC10977980 DOI: 10.1172/jci175707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUNDMalaria transmission-blocking vaccines aim to interrupt the transmission of malaria from one person to another.METHODSThe candidates R0.6C and ProC6C share the 6C domain of the Plasmodium falciparum sexual-stage antigen Pfs48/45. R0.6C utilizes the glutamate-rich protein (GLURP) as a carrier, and ProC6C includes a second domain (Pfs230-Pro) and a short 36-amino acid circumsporozoite protein (CSP) sequence. Healthy adults (n = 125) from a malaria-endemic area of Burkina Faso were immunized with 3 intramuscular injections, 4 weeks apart, of 30 μg or 100 μg R0.6C or ProC6C each adsorbed to Alhydrogel (AlOH) adjuvant alone or in combination with Matrix-M (15 μg or 50 μg, respectively). The allocation was random and double-blind for this phase I trial.RESULTSThe vaccines were safe and well tolerated with no vaccine-related serious adverse events. A total of 7 adverse events, mild to moderate in intensity and considered possibly related to the study vaccines, were recorded. Vaccine-specific antibodies were highest in volunteers immunized with 100 μg ProC6C-AlOH with Matrix-M, and 13 of 20 (65%) individuals in the group showed greater than 80% transmission-reducing activity (TRA) when evaluated in the standard membrane feeding assay at 15 mg/mL IgG. In contrast, R0.6C induced sporadic TRA.CONCLUSIONAll formulations were safe and well tolerated in a malaria-endemic area of Africa in healthy adults. The ProC6C-AlOH/Matrix-M vaccine elicited the highest levels of functional antibodies, meriting further investigation.TRIAL REGISTRATIONPan-African Clinical Trials Registry (https://pactr.samrc.ac.za) PACTR202201848463189.FUNDINGThe study was funded by the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (grant RIA2018SV-2311).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfred B. Tiono
- Groupe de Recherche Action en Santé (GRAS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Jordan L. Plieskatt
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut (SSI), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Kazutoyo Miura
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Edith C. Bougouma
- Groupe de Recherche Action en Santé (GRAS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Mohammad Naghizadeh
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut (SSI), Copenhagen, Denmark
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Aissata Barry
- Groupe de Recherche Action en Santé (GRAS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | | | - Sem Ezinmegnon
- Groupe de Recherche Action en Santé (GRAS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Noelie Henry
- Groupe de Recherche Action en Santé (GRAS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Ebenezer Addo Ofori
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut (SSI), Copenhagen, Denmark
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bright Adu
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Susheel K. Singh
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut (SSI), Copenhagen, Denmark
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Augustin Konkobo
- Groupe de Recherche Action en Santé (GRAS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | | | - Amidou Diarra
- Groupe de Recherche Action en Santé (GRAS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | | | | | - Amidou Ouedraogo
- Groupe de Recherche Action en Santé (GRAS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Moussa Tienta
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Mali–National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases International Center for Excellence in Research, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - Carole A. Long
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Issa N. Ouedraogo
- Groupe de Recherche Action en Santé (GRAS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Issaka Sagara
- Malaria Research and Training Center, Mali–National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases International Center for Excellence in Research, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | | | - Michael Theisen
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut (SSI), Copenhagen, Denmark
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Gyasi SF, Sarfo MK, Kabo-Bah AT, Adu B, Appiah AS, Serfor-Armah Y. In vitro assessment of crude oil degradation by Acinetobacter junii and Alcanivorax xenomutans isolated from the coast of Ghana. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24994. [PMID: 38318038 PMCID: PMC10838785 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
This study was aimed at using in vitro microcosm experiments to assess crude oil degradation efficiency of Acinetobacter junii and Alcanivorax xenomutans isolated along Ghana's coast. Uncontaminated seawater from selected locations along the coast was used to isolate bacterial species by employing enrichment culture procedures with crude oil as the only carbon source. The isolates were identified by means of the extended direct colony transfer method of the Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF MS), as Acinetobacter junii, and Alcanivorax xenomutans. Remediation tests showed that Acinetobacter junii yielded degradation efficiencies of 27.59 %, 41.38 % and 57.47 %. Whereas efficiencies of 21.14 %, 32.18 % and 43.68 % were recorded by Alcanivorax xenomutans representing 15, 30 and 45 days respectively. Consortia of Acinetobacter junii, and Alcanivorax xenomutans also yielded 32.18 %, 48.28 % and 62.07 % for the selected days respectively. Phylogenetic characterization using ClustalW and BLAST of sequences generated from the Oxford Nanopore Sequencing technique, showed that the Ghanaian isolates clustered with Alcanivorax xenomutans and Acinetobacter junii species respectively. An analysis of the sequenced data for the 1394-bp portion of the 16S rRNA gene of the isolates revealed >99 % sequence identity with the isolates present on the GenBank database. The isolates of closest identity were Alcanivorax xenomutans and Acinetobacter junii with accession numbers, NR_133958.1 and KJ147060.1 respectively. Acinetobacter junii and Alcanivorax xenomutans isolated from Ghana's coast under pristine seawater conditions have therefore demonstrated their capacity to be used for the remediation of crude oil spills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Fosu Gyasi
- Department of Biological Science, University of Energy and Natural Resources. Sunyani, Ghana
- Centre for Research in Applied Biology, University of Energy and Natural Resources. Sunyani, Ghana
| | - Mark Kwasi Sarfo
- National Nuclear Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Ghana
| | | | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Ghana
| | - Andrew Sarkodie Appiah
- Biotechnology Center, Biotechnology and Nuclear Agricultural Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Ghana
| | - Yaw Serfor-Armah
- School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
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Asamoah I, Adusei-Poku M, Vandyck-Sey P, Steele-Dadzie A, Kuffour AS, Turkson A, Asante IA, Addo-Osafo K, Mohktar Q, Adu B, Afrane YA, Sagoe KWC. COVID-19 in patients presenting with malaria-like symptoms at a primary healthcare facility in Accra, Ghana. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298088. [PMID: 38335209 PMCID: PMC10857731 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria is a common and severe public health problem in Ghana and largely responsible for febrile symptoms presented at health facilities in the country. Other infectious diseases, including COVID-19, may mimic malaria due to their shared non-specific symptoms such as fever and headache thus leading to misdiagnosis. This study therefore investigated COVID-19 among patients presenting with malaria-like symptoms at Korle-Bu Polyclinic, Accra, Ghana. METHODS This study enrolled 300 patients presenting with malaria-like symptoms aged ≥18yrs. After consent was obtained from study patients, two to three millilitres of whole blood, nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab samples, were collected for screening of Plasmodium falciparum using malaria rapid diagnostic test, microscopy and nested PCR, and SARS-CoV-2 using SARS-CoV-2 antigen test and Real-time PCR, respectively. The plasma and whole blood were also used for COVID-19 antibody testing and full blood counts using hematological analyser. SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing was performed using MinIon sequencing. RESULTS The prevalence of malaria by microscopy, RDT and nested PCR were 2.3%, 2.3% and 2.7% respectively. The detection of SARS-CoV-2 by COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test and Real-time PCR were 8.7% and 20% respectively. The Delta variant was reported in 23 of 25 SARS-CoV-2 positives with CT values below 30. Headache was the most common symptom presented by study participants (95%). Comorbidities reported were hypertension, asthma and diabetes. One hundred and thirteen (37.8%) of the study participants had prior exposure to SARS CoV-2 and (34/51) 66.7% of Astrazeneca vaccinated patients had no IgG antibody. CONCLUSION It may be difficult to use clinical characteristics to distinguish between patients with COVID-19 having malaria-like symptoms. Detection of IgM using RDTs may be useful in predicting CT values for SARS-CoV-2 real-time PCR and therefore transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Issabella Asamoah
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana
| | - Mildred Adusei-Poku
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana
| | - Priscilla Vandyck-Sey
- Korle Bu Polyclinic Family Medicine Department, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana
| | - Allen Steele-Dadzie
- Korle Bu Polyclinic Family Medicine Department, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana
| | - Atta Senior Kuffour
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana
| | - Albert Turkson
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana
| | - Ivy Asantewaa Asante
- Department of Virology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kantanka Addo-Osafo
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana
| | - Quaneeta Mohktar
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Yaw A. Afrane
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kwamena W. C. Sagoe
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana
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Amuasi GR, Dsani E, Owusu-Nyantakyi C, Owusu FA, Mohktar Q, Nilsson P, Adu B, Hendriksen RS, Egyir B. Enterococcus species: insights into antimicrobial resistance and whole-genome features of isolates recovered from livestock and raw meat in Ghana. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1254896. [PMID: 38192291 PMCID: PMC10773571 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1254896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Enterococcus spp. have gradually evolved from commensals to causing life-threatening hospital-acquired infections globally due to their inherent antimicrobial resistance ability and virulence potential. Enterococcus spp. recovered from livestock and raw meat samples were characterized using antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing. Materials and methods Isolates were confirmed using the MALDI-ToF mass spectrometer, and antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Whole genome sequencing was performed on isolates resistant to two or more antibiotics. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to determine sequence types, resistance and virulence gene content and evolutionary relationships between isolates from meat and livestock samples, and other enterococci genomes curated by PATRIC. eBURST analysis was used to assign genomes to clonal complexes. Results Enterococcus spp. were predominantly E. faecalis (96/236; 41%) and E. faecium (89/236; 38%). Overall, isolates showed resistance to erythromycin (78/236; 33%), tetracycline (71/236; 30%), ciprofloxacin (20/236; 8%), chloramphenicol (12/236; 5%), linezolid (7/236; 3%), ampicillin (4/236; 2%) and vancomycin (1/236, 0.4%). Resistance to two or more antimicrobial agents was detected among 17% (n = 40) Enterococcus spp. Resistance genes for streptogramins [lsa(A), lsa(E), msr(C)], aminoglycosides [aac(6')-Ii, aph(3')-III, ant(6)-Ia, aac(6')-aph(2″), str], amphenicol [cat], macrolides [erm(B), erm(T), msr(C)], tetracyclines [tet(M), tet(L), tet(S)] and lincosamides [lsa(A), lsa(E), lnu(B)] were detected among the isolates. Genes for biofilm formation, adhesins, sex pheromones, cytolysins, hyaluronidase, oxidative stress resistance, quorum-sensing and anti-phagocytic activity were also identified. Potential plasmids with replicon sequences (rep1, rep2, repUS43, repUS47, rep9a, rep9b) and other mobile genetic elements (Tn917, cn_5536_ISEnfa1, Tn6009, ISEnfa1, ISEfa10) were detected. Clinically relevant E. faecium ST32 and ST416 clones were identified in meat samples. Conclusion The occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant Enterococcus spp. in livestock and raw meat samples, carrying multiple resistance and virulence genes, including known clones associated with hospital-acquired infections, underscores the critical need for employing robust tools like whole genome sequencing. Such tools provide detailed data essential for ongoing surveillance efforts aimed at addressing the challenge of antimicrobial resistance with a focus on one health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grebstad Rabbi Amuasi
- Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Esther Dsani
- Veterinary Services Department, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Accra, Ghana
| | - Christian Owusu-Nyantakyi
- Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Felicia A. Owusu
- Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Quaneeta Mohktar
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Pernille Nilsson
- National Food Institute, Research Group for Global Capacity Building, WHO Collaborating Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance in Foodborne Pathogens and Genomics, FAO Reference Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance, European Union Reference Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Rene S. Hendriksen
- National Food Institute, Research Group for Global Capacity Building, WHO Collaborating Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance in Foodborne Pathogens and Genomics, FAO Reference Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance, European Union Reference Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Beverly Egyir
- Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
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Bell GJ, Gyaase S, Goel V, Adu B, Mensah B, Essone P, Dosoo D, Osei M, Niare K, Wiru K, Brandt K, Emch M, Ghansah A, Asante KP, Mvalo T, Agnandji ST, Juliano JJ, Bailey JA. Background malaria incidence and parasitemia during the three-dose RTS,S/AS01 vaccination series do not reduce magnitude of antibody response nor efficacy against the first case of malaria. BMC Infect Dis 2023; 23:716. [PMID: 37872492 PMCID: PMC10594884 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08699-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND RTS,S/AS01 has been recommended by WHO for widespread implementation in medium to high malaria transmission settings. Previous analyses have noted lower vaccine efficacies in higher transmission settings, possibly due to the more rapid development of naturally acquired immunity in the control group. METHODS To investigate a reduced immune response to vaccination as a potential mechanism behind lower efficacy in high transmission areas, we examine initial vaccine antibody (anti-CSP IgG) response and vaccine efficacy against the first case of malaria (to exclude the effect of naturally acquired immunity) using data from three study areas (Kintampo, Ghana; Lilongwe, Malawi; Lambaréné, Gabon) from the 2009-2014 phase III trial (NCT00866619). Our key exposures are parasitemia during the vaccination series and background malaria incidence. We calculate vaccine efficacy (one minus hazard ratio) using a cox-proportional hazards model and allowing for the time-varying effect of RTS,S/AS01. RESULTS We find that antibody responses to the primary three-dose vaccination series were higher in Ghana than in Malawi and Gabon, but that neither antibody levels nor vaccine efficacy against the first case of malaria varied by background incidence or parasitemia during the primary vaccination series. CONCLUSIONS We find that vaccine efficacy is unrelated to infections during vaccination. Contributing to a conflicting literature, our results suggest that vaccine efficacy is also unrelated to infections before vaccination, meaning that control-group immunity is likely a major reason for lower efficacy in high transmission settings, not reduced immune responses to RTS,S/AS01. This may be reassuring for implementation in high transmission settings, though further studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Griffin J Bell
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | | | - Varun Goel
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Bright Adu
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Benedicta Mensah
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Paulin Essone
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon
| | - David Dosoo
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo, Ghana
| | - Musah Osei
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo, Ghana
| | - Karamoko Niare
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Kenneth Wiru
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo, Ghana
| | - Katerina Brandt
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Michael Emch
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Anita Ghansah
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | | | - Tisungane Mvalo
- University of North Carolina Project, Lilongwe, Malawi
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Selidji Todagbe Agnandji
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jonathan J Juliano
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Bailey
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
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7
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Frempong NA, Ahiabor C, Anyan WK, Mama A, Kusi KA, Ofori MF, Adu B, Debrah AY, Anang AK, Ndam NT, Courtin D. Malaria, Urogenital Schistosomiasis, and Anaemia in Pregnant Ghanaian Women. J Parasitol Res 2023; 2023:7500676. [PMID: 37808169 PMCID: PMC10558271 DOI: 10.1155/2023/7500676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Anaemia is common in sub-Saharan Africa, and parasitic infections could worsen its burden during pregnancy. Moreover, women become susceptible to malaria during pregnancy. We investigated Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) and Schistosoma haematobium (S. haematobium) infections and determined their association with anaemia during pregnancy. Methods A cross-sectional study involving 707 pregnant women attending antenatal care visits (ANC) and 446 at delivery was conducted in Battor and Adidome hospitals. Pregnant women were screened by microscopy and qPCR for P. falciparum and S. haematobium infections. Haemoglobin (Hb) levels were determined, and most participants received intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy (IPTp) during ANC till delivery. Regression analyses were performed for associations between parasite infection and anaemia. Results P. falciparum microscopy prevalence at ANC and delivery was 8% and 2%, respectively, and by PCR 24% at ANC and 12% at delivery. Anaemia prevalence at ANC was 52% and 49% at delivery. There was an increased risk of anaemia with P. falciparum infection (aOR = 1.92; p = 0.04). IPTp (p = 0.003) and age (p = 0.004) were associated with increased Hb levels at delivery. S. haematobium prevalence by microscopy was 4% at ANC and 2% at delivery. No significant correlation between S. haematobium and Hb levels was observed (coef. = -0.62 g/dl; p = 0.07). Conclusion High anaemia prevalence was observed during pregnancy, and P. falciparum infection was associated with anaemia at ANC. Low S. haematobium prevalence could be attributed to previous praziquantel treatment during mass drug administration. Routine diagnosis and treatment of S. haematobium infections in endemic areas could be initiated to reduce schistosomiasis during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naa Adjeley Frempong
- Clinical Microbiology Department, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Charity Ahiabor
- Science Laboratory Technology, Accra Technical University, Ghana
| | - William K. Anyan
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Atikatou Mama
- Inserm U 1016, Institut Cochin, Université de Paris, 75014, France
| | - Kwadwo Asamoah Kusi
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Michael F. Ofori
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Alex Yaw Debrah
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
| | - Abraham K. Anang
- Institute of Environment and Sanitation Studies(IESS), University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
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8
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Ofori EA, Garcia-Senosiain A, Naghizadeh M, Kana IH, Dziegiel MH, Adu B, Singh S, Theisen M. Human blood neutrophils generate ROS through FcγR-signaling to mediate protection against febrile P. falciparum malaria. Commun Biol 2023; 6:743. [PMID: 37463969 PMCID: PMC10354059 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05118-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Blood phagocytes, such as neutrophils and monocytes, generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a part of host defense response against infections. We investigated the mechanism of Fcγ-Receptor (FcγR) mediated ROS production in these cells to understand how they contribute to anti-malarial immunity. Plasmodium falciparum merozoites opsonized with naturally occurring IgG triggered both intracellular and extracellular ROS generation in blood phagocytes, with neutrophils being the main contributors. Using specific inhibitors, we show that both FcγRIIIB and FcγRIIA acted synergistically to induce ROS production in neutrophils, and that NADPH oxidase 2 and the PI3K intracellular signal transduction pathway were involved in this process. High levels of neutrophil ROS were also associated with protection against febrile malaria in two geographically diverse malaria endemic regions from Ghana and India, stressing the importance of the cooperation between anti-malarial IgG and neutrophils in triggering ROS-mediated parasite killing as a mechanism for naturally acquired immunity against malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ebenezer Addo Ofori
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Asier Garcia-Senosiain
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mohammad Naghizadeh
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ikhlaq Hussain Kana
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten Hanefeld Dziegiel
- Blood Bank KI 2034, Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bright Adu
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Subhash Singh
- ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
| | - Michael Theisen
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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9
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Bonney JK, Adu B, Sanders T, Pratt D, Adams P, Asante IA, Bonney EY, Agbodzi B, Kumordjie S, Faye M, Obodai E, Ketorwoley P, Yeboah C, Tublu M, Diagne MM, Diallo A, Ofori M, Laryea D, Asiedu-Bekoe F, Kyei GB, Ohene SA, Boateng G, Chapman R, Faye O, Wiley M, Odoom J, Sall A, Kasolo FC, Yeboah-Manu D. Marburg Virus Disease in Ghana. N Engl J Med 2023; 388:2393-2394. [PMID: 37342928 DOI: 10.1056/nejmc2300867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph K Bonney
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Accra, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Deborah Pratt
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Accra, Ghana
| | - Patience Adams
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Accra, Ghana
| | - Ivy A Asante
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Accra, Ghana
| | - Evelyn Y Bonney
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Accra, Ghana
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Clara Yeboah
- U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit 3, Accra, Ghana
| | - Mildred Tublu
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Accra, Ghana
| | | | | | - Magdalene Ofori
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Accra, Ghana
| | | | | | | | | | - Gifty Boateng
- National Public Health Reference Laboratory, Accra, Ghana
| | - Ryan Chapman
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln, NE
| | | | | | - John Odoom
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Accra, Ghana
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10
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Bell GJ, Gyaase S, Goel V, Adu B, Mensah B, Essone P, Dosoo D, Osei M, Niare K, Wiru K, Brandt K, Emch M, Ghansah A, Asante KP, Mvalo T, Agnandji ST, Juliano JJ, Bailey JA. Malaria Transmission Intensity and Parasitemia during the Three-Dose RTS,S/AS01 Vaccination Series do not Reduce Magnitude of Antibody Response nor Efficacy Against the First Case of Malaria. Res Sq 2023:rs.3.rs-2960373. [PMID: 37292711 PMCID: PMC10246269 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2960373/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Background RTS,S/AS01 has been recommended by WHO for widespread implementation in medium to high malaria transmission settings. Previous analyses have noted lower vaccine efficacies in higher transmission settings, possibly due to the more rapid development of naturally acquired immunity in the control group. Methods To investigate a reduced immune response to vaccination as a potential mechanism behind lower efficacy in high transmission areas, we examine initial vaccine antibody (anti-CSP IgG) response and vaccine efficacy against the first case of malaria to exclude the delayed malaria effect using data from three study areas (Kintampo, Ghana; Lilongwe, Malawi; Lambaréné, Gabon) from the 2009-2014 phase III trial (NCT00866619). Our key exposures are parasitemia during the vaccination series and malaria transmission intensity. We calculate vaccine efficacy (one minus hazard ratio) using a cox-proportional hazards model and allowing for the time-varying effect of RTS,S/AS01. Results We find that antibody responses to the primary three-dose vaccination series were higher in Ghana than in Malawi and Gabon, but that neither antibody levels nor vaccine efficacy against the first case of malaria varied by transmission intensity or parasitemia during the primary vaccination series. Conclusions We find that vaccine efficacy is unrelated to infections during vaccination. Contributing to a conflicting literature, our results suggest that vaccine efficacy is also unrelated to infections before vaccination, meaning that delayed malaria is likely the main reason for lower efficacy in high transmission settings, not reduced immune responses. This may be reassuring for implementation in high transmission settings, though further studies are needed.
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11
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Christoffels A, Mboowa G, van Heusden P, Makhubela S, Githinji G, Mwangi S, Onywera H, Nnaemeka N, Amoako DG, Olawoye I, Diallo A, Mbala-Kingebeni P, Oyola SO, Adu B, Mvelase C, Ondoa P, Dratibi FA, Sow A, Gumede N, Tessema SK, Ouma AO, Tebeje YK. A pan-African pathogen genomics data sharing platform to support disease outbreaks. Nat Med 2023; 29:1052-1055. [PMID: 37161068 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02266-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alan Christoffels
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- South African National Bioinformatics Institute, SAMRC Bioinformatics Unit, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Gerald Mboowa
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Peter van Heusden
- South African National Bioinformatics Institute, SAMRC Bioinformatics Unit, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - George Githinji
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme/KEMRI-CGMR-C, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Sarah Mwangi
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Harris Onywera
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Daniel Gyamfi Amoako
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
- College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Idowu Olawoye
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | | | - Placide Mbala-Kingebeni
- Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, Université de Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Samuel O Oyola
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Bright Adu
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Pascale Ondoa
- African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | | | - Nicksy Gumede
- WHO Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
| | - Sofonias K Tessema
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
| | - Ahmed Ogwell Ouma
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Yenew Kebede Tebeje
- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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12
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Adu B, Bonney JH, Egyir B, Otchere ID, Asare P, Dennis FE, Bonney EY, Akuffo R, Asante IA, Obodai E, Kumordjie S, Appiah-Kubi J, Mohktar Q, Frempong HO, Asiedu-Bekoe F, Adusei-Poku MA, Aboagye JO, Agbodzi B, Yeboah C, Agbenyo SB, Uche PO, Attiku KO, Sekyere BT, Laryea D, Buabeng K, Lamptey H, Ghansah A, Yeboah-Manu D, Anang AK, Ampofo WK, Kyei GB, Odoom JK. SARS-CoV-2 Molecular Evolutionary Dynamics in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana. Emerg Infect Dis 2023; 29:862-865. [PMID: 36958011 PMCID: PMC10045712 DOI: 10.3201/eid2904.221410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
To assess dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in Greater Accra Region, Ghana, we analyzed SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences from persons in the community and returning from international travel. The Accra Metropolitan District was a major origin of virus spread to other districts and should be a primary focus for interventions against future infectious disease outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Beverly Egyir
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Isaac Darko Otchere
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Prince Asare
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Francis E. Dennis
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Evelyn Yayra Bonney
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Richard Akuffo
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Ivy A. Asante
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Evangeline Obodai
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Selassie Kumordjie
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Joyce Appiah-Kubi
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Quaneeta Mohktar
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Hilda Opoku Frempong
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Mildred A. Adusei-Poku
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - James O. Aboagye
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Bright Agbodzi
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Clara Yeboah
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Seyram B. Agbenyo
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Peace O. Uche
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Keren O. Attiku
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Bernice Twenewaa Sekyere
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Dennis Laryea
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Kwame Buabeng
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Helena Lamptey
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Anita Ghansah
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Dorothy Yeboah-Manu
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - Abraham K. Anang
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - William K. Ampofo
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - George B. Kyei
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
| | - John K. Odoom
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana College of Health Sciences, Legon, Ghana (B. Adu, J.H.K. Bonney, B. Egyir, I.D. Otchere, P. Asare, F.E. Dennis, E.Y. Bonney, R. Akuffo, I.A. Asante, E. Obodai, S. Kumordjie, J. Appiah-Kubi, Q. Mohktar, H. Opoku Frempong, J.O. Aboagye, B. Agbodzi, C. Yeboah, S.B. Agbenyo, P.O. Uche, K.O. Attiku, B. Twenewaa Sekyere, D. Laryea, K. Buabeng, H. Lamptey, A. Ghansah, D. Yeboah-Manu, A.K. Anang, W.K. Ampofo, G.B. Kyei, J.K. Odoom)
- Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana (F. Asiedu-Bekoe)
- University of Ghana Medical School, Accra (M.A. Adusei-Poku)
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, Legon (G.B. Kyei)
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13
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Tchum SK, Sakyi SA, Arthur F, Adu B, Abubakar LA, Oppong FB, Dzabeng F, Amoani B, Gyan T, Asante KP. Effect of iron fortification on anaemia and risk of malaria among Ghanaian pre-school children with haemoglobinopathies and different ABO blood groups. BMC Nutr 2023; 9:56. [PMID: 36959634 PMCID: PMC10035121 DOI: 10.1186/s40795-023-00709-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Haemoglobinopathies such as sickle cell disorder and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency as well as differences in ABO blood groups have been shown to influence the risk of malaria and/or anaemia in malaria-endemic areas. This study assessed the effect of adding MNP containing iron to home-made weaning meals on anaemia and the risk of malaria in Ghanaian pre-school children with haemoglobinopathies and different ABO blood groups. METHODS This study was a double-blind, randomly clustered trial conducted within six months among infants and young children aged 6 to 35 months in rural Ghana (775 clusters, n = 860). Participants were randomly selected into clusters to receive daily semiliquid home-prepared meals mixed with either micronutrient powder without iron (noniron group) or with iron (iron group; 12.5 mg of iron daily) for 5 months. Malaria infection was detected by microscopy, blood haemoglobin (Hb) levels were measured with a HemoCue Hb analyzer, the reversed ABO blood grouping microtube assay was performed, and genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP analysis. RESULTS The prevalence of G6PD deficiency among the study participants was 11.2%. However, the prevalence of G6PD deficiency in hemizygous males (8.5%) was significantly higher than that in homozygous females (2.7%) (p = 0.005). The prevalence rates of sickle cell traits (HbAS and HbSC) and sickle cell disorder (HbSS) were 17.5% and 0.5%, respectively. Blood group O was dominant (41.4%), followed by blood group A (29.6%) and blood group B (23.3%), while blood group AB (5.7%) had the least frequency among the study participants. We observed that children on an iron supplement with HbAS had significantly moderate anaemia at the endline (EL) compared to the baseline level (BL) (p = 0.004). However, subjects with HbAS and HbAC and blood groups A and O in the iron group had a significantly increased number of malaria episodes at EL than at BL (p < 0.05). Furthermore, children in the iron group with HbSS (p < 0.001) and the noniron group with HbCC (p = 0.010) were significantly less likely to develop malaria. CONCLUSIONS Iron supplementation increased anaemia in children with HbAS genotypes and provided less protection against malaria in children with HbAC and AS and blood groups A and O. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01001871 . Registered 27/10/2009. REGISTRATION NUMBER https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT01001871 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Kofi Tchum
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, College of Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo-North, Bono East Region, Ghana.
| | - Samuel Asamoah Sakyi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Fareed Arthur
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, College of Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Felix Boakye Oppong
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo-North, Bono East Region, Ghana
| | - Francis Dzabeng
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Benjamin Amoani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Thomas Gyan
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo-North, Bono East Region, Ghana
| | - Kwaku Poku Asante
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo-North, Bono East Region, Ghana
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14
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Badr HS, Colston JM, Nguyen NLH, Chen YT, Burnett E, Ali SA, Rayamajhi A, Satter SM, Van Trang N, Eibach D, Krumkamp R, May J, Adegnika AA, Manouana GP, Kremsner PG, Chilengi R, Hatyoka L, Debes AK, Ateudjieu J, Faruque ASG, Hossain MJ, Kanungo S, Kotloff KL, Mandomando I, Nisar MI, Omore R, Sow SO, Zaidi AKM, Lambrecht N, Adu B, Page N, Platts-Mills JA, Mavacala Freitas C, Pelkonen T, Ashorn P, Maleta K, Ahmed T, Bessong P, Bhutta ZA, Mason C, Mduma E, Olortegui MP, Peñataro Yori P, Lima AAM, Kang G, Humphrey J, Ntozini R, Prendergast AJ, Okada K, Wongboot W, Langeland N, Moyo SJ, Gaensbauer J, Melgar M, Freeman M, Chard AN, Thongpaseuth V, Houpt E, Zaitchik BF, Kosek MN. Spatiotemporal variation in risk of Shigella infection in childhood: a global risk mapping and prediction model using individual participant data. Lancet Glob Health 2023; 11:e373-e384. [PMID: 36796984 PMCID: PMC10020138 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(22)00549-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diarrhoeal disease is a leading cause of childhood illness and death globally, and Shigella is a major aetiological contributor for which a vaccine might soon be available. The primary objective of this study was to model the spatiotemporal variation in paediatric Shigella infection and map its predicted prevalence across low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). METHODS Individual participant data for Shigella positivity in stool samples were sourced from multiple LMIC-based studies of children aged 59 months or younger. Covariates included household-level and participant-level factors ascertained by study investigators and environmental and hydrometeorological variables extracted from various data products at georeferenced child locations. Multivariate models were fitted and prevalence predictions obtained by syndrome and age stratum. FINDINGS 20 studies from 23 countries (including locations in Central America and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, and south and southeast Asia) contributed 66 563 sample results. Age, symptom status, and study design contributed most to model performance followed by temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, and soil moisture. Probability of Shigella infection exceeded 20% when both precipitation and soil moisture were above average and had a 43% peak in uncomplicated diarrhoea cases at 33°C temperatures, above which it decreased. Compared with unimproved sanitation, improved sanitation decreased the odds of Shigella infection by 19% (odds ratio [OR]=0·81 [95% CI 0·76-0·86]) and open defecation decreased them by 18% (OR=0·82 [0·76-0·88]). INTERPRETATION The distribution of Shigella is more sensitive to climatological factors, such as temperature, than previously recognised. Conditions in much of sub-Saharan Africa are particularly propitious for Shigella transmission, although hotspots also occur in South America and Central America, the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta, and the island of New Guinea. These findings can inform prioritisation of populations for future vaccine trials and campaigns. FUNDING NASA, National Institutes of Health-The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamada S Badr
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Baltimore, MA, USA
| | - Josh M Colston
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | | | - Yen Ting Chen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Eleanor Burnett
- Division of Viral Diseases, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Syed Asad Ali
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Ajit Rayamajhi
- Department of Pediatrics, National Academy of Medical Sciences, Kanti Children's Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Syed M Satter
- Programme for Emerging Infections, Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Daniel Eibach
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Krumkamp
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen May
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ayola Akim Adegnika
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | | | - Roma Chilengi
- Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Luiza Hatyoka
- Enteric diseases and Vaccines Unit, Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Amanda K Debes
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jerome Ateudjieu
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon; Department of Health Research, M A SANTE (Meileur Acces aux Soins en Santé), Yaoundé, Cameroon; Division of Health Operations Research, Cameroon Ministry of Public Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Abu S G Faruque
- Centre for Nutrition & Food Security, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - M Jahangir Hossain
- Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Suman Kanungo
- National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkota, India
| | - Karen L Kotloff
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - M Imran Nisar
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Richard Omore
- Kenya Medical Research Institute, Center for Global Health Research, Kisumu, Nyanza, Kenya
| | - Samba O Sow
- Centre pour le Développement des Vaccins, Mali, Bamako, Mali
| | - Anita K M Zaidi
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Nathalie Lambrecht
- Institute of Public Health, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Research Department 2, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Member of the Leibniz Association, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Nicola Page
- Centre for Enteric Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - James A Platts-Mills
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | | | - Tuula Pelkonen
- New Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Per Ashorn
- Centre for Child, Adolescent, and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Kenneth Maleta
- College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Tahmeed Ahmed
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Pascal Bessong
- HIV/AIDS & Global Health Research Programme, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, Limpopo, South Africa
| | - Zulfiqar A Bhutta
- Center of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Carl Mason
- Department of Enteric Diseases, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (AFRIMS), Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | | | - Pablo Peñataro Yori
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Aldo A M Lima
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Gagandeep Kang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | - Jean Humphrey
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Robert Ntozini
- Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health Research, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | | | - Kazuhisa Okada
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Warawan Wongboot
- Department of Medical Sciences, National Institute of Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand
| | - Nina Langeland
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Sabrina J Moyo
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - James Gaensbauer
- Center for Global Health, Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Mario Melgar
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Hospital Roosevelt, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Matthew Freeman
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, 30322, GA, USA
| | - Anna N Chard
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, 30322, GA, USA
| | - Vonethalom Thongpaseuth
- Laboratory and Treatment Unit, Center for Malariology, Parasitology, and Entomology, Ministry of Health, Vientiane, Lao PDR
| | - Eric Houpt
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Benjamin F Zaitchik
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Baltimore, MA, USA.
| | - Margaret N Kosek
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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15
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Sarfo MK, Gyasi SF, Kabo-Bah AT, Adu B, Mohktar Q, Appiah AS, Serfor-Armah Y. Isolation and characterization of crude-oil-dependent bacteria from the coast of Ghana using oxford nanopore sequencing. Heliyon 2023; 9:e13075. [PMID: 36785818 PMCID: PMC9918745 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The utilization and improper use of crude oil can have irreparable damage on the environment and human populations. This study sought to isolate hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria from 1% v/v pristine seawater and 1% v/v crude oil using enrichment culture techniques. Whole genome sequencing of DNA using the Oxford Nanopore sequencing technique with Fastq WIMP as the workflow at 3% abundance was undertaken. The results showed that the most abundant isolates identified using this technique at specific sampling sites were, Acinetobacter junii (51.9%), Alcanivarax pacificus (15.8%), Acinetobacter haemolyticus (21.6%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (23.4%), Alcanivorax xenomutans (24.7%), Alcanivorax xenomutans (23.0%) Acinetobacter baumannii (40.0%) and Acinetobacter junii (14.2%). Cumulatively, the most abundant isolates in the 8 sampling sites were Acinetobacter junii (17.91%), Alcanivorax xenomutans (11.68%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (7.68%), Escherichia coli (7.67%), Acinetobacter haemolyticus (3.40%), and Alkanivorax pacificus (3.10%). Spearman's rank correlation analysis to examine the strength of relationship between the physicochemical parameters and type of bacteria isolated, revealed that salinity (0.8046) and pH (0.7252) were the highest. Isolated bacteria from pristine seawater, especially Escherichia coli have shown their capacity for bioremediating oil spill pollution in oceanic environments in Ghana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Kwasi Sarfo
- Regional Center for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana,Corresponding author.
| | - Samuel Fosu Gyasi
- Department of Biological Science, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana,Centre for Research in Applied Biology, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana
| | - Amos Tiereyangn Kabo-Bah
- Regional Center for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University Of Ghana, Ghana
| | - Quaneeta Mohktar
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University Of Ghana, Ghana
| | - Andrew Sarkodie Appiah
- Biotechnology Center, Biotechnology and Nuclear Agricultural Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Ghana
| | - Yaw Serfor-Armah
- School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
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16
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Kyei-Baafour E, Kusi KA, Arthur FK, Tiendrebeogo RW, Owusu-Yeboa E, Singh SK, Friedrich S, Gerds TA, Dodoo D, Theisen M, Adu B. High opsonic phagocytosis activity and growth inhibition of merozoites are associated with RON4 antibody levels and protect against febrile malaria in Ghanaian children. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1161301. [PMID: 37197657 PMCID: PMC10183564 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1161301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Naturally acquired immunity to malaria may involve different immune mechanisms working in concert, however, their respective contributions and potential antigenic targets have not been clearly established. Here, we assessed the roles of opsonic phagocytosis and antibody-mediated merozoite growth inhibition in Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) infection outcomes in Ghanaian children. Methods The levels of merozoite opsonic phagocytosis, growth inhibition activities and six P. falciparum antigen-specific IgG of plasma samples from children (n=238, aged 0.5 to 13 years) were measured at baseline prior to the malaria seasons in southern Ghana. The children were then actively and passively followed up for febrile malaria and asymptomatic P. falciparum infection detection in a 50-week longitudinal cohort. P. falciparum infection outcome was modelled as a function of the measured immune parameters while accounting for important demographic factors. Results High plasma activity of opsonic phagocytosis [adjusted odds ratio (aOR)= 0.16; 95%CI= 0.05 - 0.50, p = 0.002], and growth inhibition (aOR=0.15; 95% CI = 0.04-0.47; p = 0.001) were individually associated with protection against febrile malaria. There was no evidence of correlation (b= 0.13; 95% CI= -0.04-0.30; p=0.14) between the two assays. IgG antibodies against MSPDBL1 correlated with opsonic phagocytosis (OP) while IgG against PfRh2a correlated with growth inhibition. Notably, IgG antibodies against RON4 correlated with both assays. Conclusion Opsonic phagocytosis and growth inhibition are protective immune mechanisms against malaria that may be acting independently to confer overall protection. Vaccines incorporating RON4 may benefit from both immune mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Kyei-Baafour
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon Accra, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Kwadwo Asamoah Kusi
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon Accra, Ghana
| | - Fareed K.N. Arthur
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Regis W. Tiendrebeogo
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Eunice Owusu-Yeboa
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon Accra, Ghana
| | - Susheel K. Singh
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sarah Friedrich
- Section of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Medical Statistics, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Thomas A. Gerds
- Section of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daniel Dodoo
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon Accra, Ghana
| | - Michael Theisen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon Accra, Ghana
- *Correspondence: Bright Adu,
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17
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Fall AKDJ, Courtin D, Adamou R, Edslev S, Hansen A, Domingo N, Christiansen M, Adu B, Milet J, Garcia A, Theisen M, Migot-Nabias F, Dechavanne C. Fc Gamma Receptor IIIB NA1/NA2/SH Polymorphisms Are Associated with Malaria Susceptibility and Antibody Levels to P. falciparum Merozoite Antigens in Beninese Children. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314882. [PMID: 36499205 PMCID: PMC9739279 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper aimed to investigate the influence of polymorphisms in the FCGR2A gene encoding R131H FcgRIIA variants and in the FCGR3B gene (108G > C, 114C > T, 194 A > G, 233C > A, 244 G > A and 316G > A) encoding FcgRIIIB-NA1, -NA2 and -SH variants on malaria susceptibility and antibody responses against P. falciparum merozoite antigens in Beninese children. An active malaria follow-up was conducted in infants from birth to 24 months of age in Allada, Benin. FCGR3B exon 3 was sequenced and FCGR2A exon 4 was genotyped. Antibodies directed to GLURP and MSP3 were quantified by ELISA. Association studies were performed using mixed-effect models. Individual carriage of FCGR3B 194 AA genotype was associated with a high number of malaria infections and a low level of IgG1 against MSP3 and GLURP-R0. High parasitemia and increased malaria infections were observed in infants carrying the FCGR3B*05 108C-114T-194A-233C-244A-316A haplotype. A reduced risk of malaria infections and low parasitemia were related to the carriages of the FCGR3B 108C-114T-194G-233C-244G-316A (FCGR3B*06), FCGR3B 108C−114T−194G−233A−244A−316A (FCGR3B*03 encoding for FcgRIIIB-SH) haplotypes and FCGR3B 297 TT genotype. Our results highlight the impact of FCGR3B polymorphisms on the individual susceptibility to malaria and antibody responses against MSP3 and GLURP in Beninese children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdou Khadre Dit Jadir Fall
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR 261 MERIT, Université Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
- Correspondence:
| | - David Courtin
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR 261 MERIT, Université Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Rafiou Adamou
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR 261 MERIT, Université Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
- Centre d’Etude et de Recherche sur les Pathologies Associées à la Grossesse et à l’Enfance, Cotonou 00229, Benin
| | - Sofie Edslev
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Bacteria, Parasites, and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anita Hansen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nadia Domingo
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR 261 MERIT, Université Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
- Centre d’Etude et de Recherche sur les Pathologies Associées à la Grossesse et à l’Enfance, Cotonou 00229, Benin
| | - Michael Christiansen
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bright Adu
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG 581, Ghana
| | - Jacqueline Milet
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR 261 MERIT, Université Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
| | - André Garcia
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR 261 MERIT, Université Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Michael Theisen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Florence Migot-Nabias
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR 261 MERIT, Université Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Célia Dechavanne
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR 261 MERIT, Université Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
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18
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Bell GJ, Goel V, Essone P, Dosoo D, Adu B, Mensah BA, Gyaase S, Wiru K, Mougeni F, Osei M, Minsoko P, Sinai C, Niaré K, Juliano JJ, Hudgens M, Ghansah A, Kamthunzi P, Mvalo T, Agnandji ST, Bailey JA, Asante KP, Emch M. Malaria Transmission Intensity Likely Modifies RTS, S/AS01 Efficacy Due to a Rebound Effect in Ghana, Malawi, and Gabon. J Infect Dis 2022; 226:1646-1656. [PMID: 35899811 PMCID: PMC10205900 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiac322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND RTS,S/AS01 is the first malaria vaccine to be approved and recommended for widespread implementation by the World Health Organization (WHO). Trials reported lower vaccine efficacies in higher-incidence sites, potentially due to a "rebound" in malaria cases in vaccinated children. When naturally acquired protection in the control group rises and vaccine protection in the vaccinated wanes concurrently, malaria incidence can become greater in the vaccinated than in the control group, resulting in negative vaccine efficacies. METHODS Using data from the 2009-2014 phase III trial (NCT00866619) in Lilongwe, Malawi; Kintampo, Ghana; and Lambaréné, Gabon, we evaluate this hypothesis by estimating malaria incidence in each vaccine group over time and in varying transmission settings. After estimating transmission intensities using ecological variables, we fit models with 3-way interactions between vaccination, time, and transmission intensity. RESULTS Over time, incidence decreased in the control group and increased in the vaccine group. Three-dose efficacy in the lowest-transmission-intensity group (0.25 cases per person-year [CPPY]) decreased from 88.2% to 15.0% over 4.5 years, compared with 81.6% to -27.7% in the highest-transmission-intensity group (3 CPPY). CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that interventions, including the fourth RTS,S dose, that protect vaccinated individuals during the potential rebound period should be implemented for high-transmission settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Griffin J Bell
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Varun Goel
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Paulin Essone
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon
| | - David Dosoo
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | | | | | - Kenneth Wiru
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo, Ghana
| | - Fabrice Mougeni
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon
| | - Musah Osei
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo, Ghana
| | - Pamela Minsoko
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon
| | - Cyrus Sinai
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Karamoko Niaré
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Jonathan J Juliano
- Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Michael Hudgens
- Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Anita Ghansah
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | | | | | - Selidji Todagbe Agnandji
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jeffrey A Bailey
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | | | - Michael Emch
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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19
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Tegally H, San JE, Cotten M, Moir M, Tegomoh B, Mboowa G, Martin DP, Baxter C, Lambisia AW, Diallo A, Amoako DG, Diagne MM, Sisay A, Zekri ARN, Gueye AS, Sangare AK, Ouedraogo AS, Sow A, Musa AO, Sesay AK, Abias AG, Elzagheid AI, Lagare A, Kemi AS, Abar AE, Johnson AA, Fowotade A, Oluwapelumi AO, Amuri AA, Juru A, Kandeil A, Mostafa A, Rebai A, Sayed A, Kazeem A, Balde A, Christoffels A, Trotter AJ, Campbell A, Keita AK, Kone A, Bouzid A, Souissi A, Agweyu A, Naguib A, Gutierrez AV, Nkeshimana A, Page AJ, Yadouleton A, Vinze A, Happi AN, Chouikha A, Iranzadeh A, Maharaj A, Batchi-Bouyou AL, Ismail A, Sylverken AA, Goba A, Femi A, Sijuwola AE, Marycelin B, Salako BL, Oderinde BS, Bolajoko B, Diarra B, Herring BL, Tsofa B, Lekana-Douki B, Mvula B, Njanpop-Lafourcade BM, Marondera BT, Khaireh BA, Kouriba B, Adu B, Pool B, McInnis B, Brook C, Williamson C, Nduwimana C, Anscombe C, Pratt CB, Scheepers C, Akoua-Koffi CG, Agoti CN, Mapanguy CM, Loucoubar C, Onwuamah CK, Ihekweazu C, Malaka CN, Peyrefitte C, Grace C, Omoruyi CE, Rafaï CD, Morang’a CM, Erameh C, Lule DB, Bridges DJ, Mukadi-Bamuleka D, Park D, Rasmussen DA, Baker D, Nokes DJ, Ssemwanga D, Tshiabuila D, Amuzu DSY, Goedhals D, Grant DS, Omuoyo DO, Maruapula D, Wanjohi DW, Foster-Nyarko E, Lusamaki EK, Simulundu E, Ong’era EM, Ngabana EN, Abworo EO, Otieno E, Shumba E, Barasa E, Ahmed EB, Ahmed EA, Lokilo E, Mukantwari E, Philomena E, Belarbi E, Simon-Loriere E, Anoh EA, Manuel E, Leendertz F, Taweh FM, Wasfi F, Abdelmoula F, Takawira FT, Derrar F, Ajogbasile FV, Treurnicht F, Onikepe F, Ntoumi F, Muyembe FM, Ragomzingba FEZ, Dratibi FA, Iyanu FA, Mbunsu GK, Thilliez G, Kay GL, Akpede GO, van Zyl GU, Awandare GA, Kpeli GS, Schubert G, Maphalala GP, Ranaivoson HC, Omunakwe HE, Onywera H, Abe H, Karray H, Nansumba H, Triki H, Kadjo HAA, Elgahzaly H, Gumbo H, Mathieu H, Kavunga-Membo H, Smeti I, Olawoye IB, Adetifa IMO, Odia I, Ben Boubaker IB, Mohammad IA, Ssewanyana I, Wurie I, Konstantinus IS, Halatoko JWA, Ayei J, Sonoo J, Makangara JCC, Tamfum JJM, Heraud JM, Shaffer JG, Giandhari J, Musyoki J, Nkurunziza J, Uwanibe JN, Bhiman JN, Yasuda J, Morais J, Kiconco J, Sandi JD, Huddleston J, Odoom JK, Morobe JM, Gyapong JO, Kayiwa JT, Okolie JC, Xavier JS, Gyamfi J, Wamala JF, Bonney JHK, Nyandwi J, Everatt J, Nakaseegu J, Ngoi JM, Namulondo J, Oguzie JU, Andeko JC, Lutwama JJ, Mogga JJH, O’Grady J, Siddle KJ, Victoir K, Adeyemi KT, Tumedi KA, Carvalho KS, Mohammed KS, Dellagi K, Musonda KG, Duedu KO, Fki-Berrajah L, Singh L, Kepler LM, Biscornet L, de Oliveira Martins L, Chabuka L, Olubayo L, Ojok LD, Deng LL, Ochola-Oyier LI, Tyers L, Mine M, Ramuth M, Mastouri M, ElHefnawi M, Mbanne M, Matsheka MI, Kebabonye M, Diop M, Momoh M, Lima Mendonça MDL, Venter M, Paye MF, Faye M, Nyaga MM, Mareka M, Damaris MM, Mburu MW, Mpina MG, Owusu M, Wiley MR, Tatfeng MY, Ayekaba MO, Abouelhoda M, Beloufa MA, Seadawy MG, Khalifa MK, Matobo MM, Kane M, Salou M, Mbulawa MB, Mwenda M, Allam M, Phan MVT, Abid N, Rujeni N, Abuzaid N, Ismael N, Elguindy N, Top NM, Dia N, Mabunda N, Hsiao NY, Silochi NB, Francisco NM, Saasa N, Bbosa N, Murunga N, Gumede N, Wolter N, Sitharam N, Ndodo N, Ajayi NA, Tordo N, Mbhele N, Razanajatovo NH, Iguosadolo N, Mba N, Kingsley OC, Sylvanus O, Femi O, Adewumi OM, Testimony O, Ogunsanya OA, Fakayode O, Ogah OE, Oludayo OE, Faye O, Smith-Lawrence P, Ondoa P, Combe P, Nabisubi P, Semanda P, Oluniyi PE, Arnaldo P, Quashie PK, Okokhere PO, Bejon P, Dussart P, Bester PA, Mbala PK, Kaleebu P, Abechi P, El-Shesheny R, Joseph R, Aziz RK, Essomba RG, Ayivor-Djanie R, Njouom R, Phillips RO, Gorman R, Kingsley RA, Neto Rodrigues RMDESA, Audu RA, Carr RAA, Gargouri S, Masmoudi S, Bootsma S, Sankhe S, Mohamed SI, Femi S, Mhalla S, Hosch S, Kassim SK, Metha S, Trabelsi S, Agwa SH, Mwangi SW, Doumbia S, Makiala-Mandanda S, Aryeetey S, Ahmed SS, Ahmed SM, Elhamoumi S, Moyo S, Lutucuta S, Gaseitsiwe S, Jalloh S, Andriamandimby SF, Oguntope S, Grayo S, Lekana-Douki S, Prosolek S, Ouangraoua S, van Wyk S, Schaffner SF, Kanyerezi S, Ahuka-Mundeke S, Rudder S, Pillay S, Nabadda S, Behillil S, Budiaki SL, van der Werf S, Mashe T, Mohale T, Le-Viet T, Velavan TP, Schindler T, Maponga TG, Bedford T, Anyaneji UJ, Chinedu U, Ramphal U, George UE, Enouf V, Nene V, Gorova V, Roshdy WH, Karim WA, Ampofo WK, Preiser W, Choga WT, Ahmed YA, Ramphal Y, Bediako Y, Naidoo Y, Butera Y, de Laurent ZR, Ouma AEO, von Gottberg A, Githinji G, Moeti M, Tomori O, Sabeti PC, Sall AA, Oyola SO, Tebeje YK, Tessema SK, de Oliveira T, Happi C, Lessells R, Nkengasong J, Wilkinson E. The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance. Science 2022; 378:eabq5358. [PMID: 36108049 PMCID: PMC9529057 DOI: 10.1126/science.abq5358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Investment in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing in Africa over the past year has led to a major increase in the number of sequences that have been generated and used to track the pandemic on the continent, a number that now exceeds 100,000 genomes. Our results show an increase in the number of African countries that are able to sequence domestically and highlight that local sequencing enables faster turnaround times and more-regular routine surveillance. Despite limitations of low testing proportions, findings from this genomic surveillance study underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic and illuminate the distinct dispersal dynamics of variants of concern-particularly Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron-on the continent. Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve while the continent faces many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houriiyah Tegally
- Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational Thinking, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - James E. San
- Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational Thinking, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Matthew Cotten
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - Monika Moir
- Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational Thinking, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Bryan Tegomoh
- The Biotechnology Centre of the University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- CDC Foundation, Atlanta, Georgia, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Gerald Mboowa
- Institute of Pathogen Genomics, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Darren P. Martin
- Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Computational Biology Division, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases in Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Cheryl Baxter
- Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational Thinking, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
| | | | - Amadou Diallo
- Virology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Daniel G. Amoako
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | | | - Abay Sisay
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Department of Microbial, Cellular and Molecular Biology, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Abdel-Rahman N. Zekri
- Cancer Biology Department, Virology and Immunology Unit, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Abdou Salam Gueye
- World Health Organization, Africa Region, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
| | - Abdoul K. Sangare
- Centre d’Infectiologie Charles Mérieux-Mali (CICM-Mali), Bamako, Mali
| | - Abdoul-Salam Ouedraogo
- Bacteriology and Virology Department Souro Sanou University Hospital, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | | | - Abdualmoniem O. Musa
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kassala University, Kassala City, Sudan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Gezira, Gezira, Sudan
- General Administration of Laboratories and Blood Banks, Ministry of Health, Kassala State, Sudan
| | | | - Abe G. Abias
- National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Juba, Republic of South Sudan
| | | | - Adamou Lagare
- Center for Medical and Sanitary Research (CERMES), Niamey, Niger
| | | | - Aden Elmi Abar
- Laboratoire de la Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale, Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti
| | - Adeniji A. Johnson
- Department of Virology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
- Infectious Disease Institute, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Adeola Fowotade
- Medical Microbiology and Parasitology Department, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
- Biorepository Clinical Virology Laboratory, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Adeyemi O. Oluwapelumi
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
- The Pirbright Institute, Woking, UK
| | - Adrienne A. Amuri
- Pathogen Sequencing Lab, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Université de Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Agnes Juru
- National Microbiology Reference Laboratory, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Ahmed Kandeil
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre (NRC), Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Mostafa
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre (NRC), Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Rebai
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Screening Processes, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Ahmed Sayed
- Genomics and Epigenomics Program, Research Department CCHE57357, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Akano Kazeem
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Aladje Balde
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular Jean Piaget, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
- University Jean Piaget in Guinea-Bissau, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
| | - Alan Christoffels
- Institute of Pathogen Genomics, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- SAMRC Bioinformatics Unit, SA Bioinformatics Institute, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Allan Campbell
- Central Public Health Reference Laboratories, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Alpha K. Keita
- Centre de Recherche et de Formation en Infectiologie de Guinée (CERFIG), Université de Conakry, Conakry, Guinea
- TransVIHMI, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Montpellier University, 34090, Montpellier, France
| | - Amadou Kone
- University Clinical Research Center (UCRC), University of Sciences, Techniques and Technology of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - Amal Bouzid
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Screening Processes, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Amal Souissi
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Screening Processes, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
| | | | - Amel Naguib
- Central Public Health Laboratories (CPHL), Cairo, Egypt
| | | | | | | | - Anges Yadouleton
- Laboratoire des Fièvres Hémorragiques Virales du Benin, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Anika Vinze
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Anise N. Happi
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Anissa Chouikha
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar (UTM), Tunis 1002, Tunisia
- Research Laboratory “Virus, Vectors and Hosts: One Health Apporach and Technological Innovation for a Better Health”, LR20IPT02, Pasteur Institute, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Arash Iranzadeh
- Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Computational Biology Division, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases in Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Arisha Maharaj
- Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational Thinking, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Armel L. Batchi-Bouyou
- Fondation Congolaise pour la Recherche Médicale, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
- Marien Ngouabi, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
| | - Arshad Ismail
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Augustina A. Sylverken
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Augustine Goba
- Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Laboratory, Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Ayoade Femi
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Ayotunde E. Sijuwola
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Baba Marycelin
- Department of Immunology, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, P.M.B. 1414, Maiduguri, Nigeria
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B. 1069, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria
| | - Babatunde L. Salako
- The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
- Infectious Disease Institute, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Bamidele S. Oderinde
- Department of Immunology, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, P.M.B. 1414, Maiduguri, Nigeria
| | - Bankole Bolajoko
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Bassirou Diarra
- University Clinical Research Center (UCRC), University of Sciences, Techniques and Technology of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - Belinda L. Herring
- World Health Organization, Africa Region, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
| | | | - Bernard Lekana-Douki
- Centre Interdisciplinaires de Recherches Medicales de Franceville (CIRMF), Franceville, Gabon
- Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie Université des Sciences de la Santé (USS), Libreville, Gabon
| | - Bernard Mvula
- National HIV Reference Laboratory, Community Health Sciences Unit, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | | | | | - Bouh Abdi Khaireh
- National Medical and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti
- Africa CDC, Rapid Responder, Team Djibouti, Djibouti, Djibouti
| | - Bourema Kouriba
- Centre d’Infectiologie Charles Mérieux-Mali (CICM-Mali), Bamako, Mali
| | - Bright Adu
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Brigitte Pool
- Seychelles Public Health Laboratory, Public Health Authority, Ministry of Health Seychelles, Victoria, Seychelles
| | - Bronwyn McInnis
- Cancer Biology Department, Virology and Immunology Unit, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Cara Brook
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Virology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Carolyn Williamson
- Division of Medical Virology, Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases in Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Catherine Anscombe
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Cathrine Scheepers
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Johannesburg, South Africa
- SAMRC Antibody Immunity Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Chantal G. Akoua-Koffi
- CHU de Bouaké, Laboratoire/Unité de Diagnostic des Virus des Fièvres Hémorragiques et Virus Émergents, Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire
- UFR Sciences Médicales, Universite Alassane Ouattara, Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Charles N. Agoti
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- School of Public Health, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Chastel M. Mapanguy
- Fondation Congolaise pour la Recherche Médicale, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
- Faculty of Science and Techniques, University Marien Ngouabi, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
| | | | - Chika K. Onwuamah
- Centre for Human Virology and Genomics, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Chikwe Ihekweazu
- Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Christian N. Malaka
- Laboratoire des Arbovirus, Fièvres Hémorragiques virales, Virus Emergents et Zoonoses, Institut Pasteur de Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic
| | | | - Chukwa Grace
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Chukwuma E. Omoruyi
- Medical Microbiology and Parasitology Department, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
- Biorepository Clinical Virology Laboratory, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Clotaire D. Rafaï
- Le Laboratoire National de Biologie Clinique et de Santé Publique (LNBCSP), Bangui, Central African Republic
| | - Collins M. Morang’a
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Cyril Erameh
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Daniel B. Lule
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | | | - Daniel Mukadi-Bamuleka
- Pathogen Sequencing Lab, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Danny Park
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - David A. Rasmussen
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | | | - David J. Nokes
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- School of Life Sciences and Zeeman Institute for Systems Biology and Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research (SBIDER), University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Deogratius Ssemwanga
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Derek Tshiabuila
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Dominic S. Y. Amuzu
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Dominique Goedhals
- PathCare Vermaak, Pretoria, South Africa and Division of Virology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Donald S. Grant
- Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Laboratory, Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | | | - Dorcas Maruapula
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership and Botswana Harvard HIV Reference Laboratory, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Dorcas W. Wanjohi
- Institute of Pathogen Genomics, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Eddy K. Lusamaki
- Pathogen Sequencing Lab, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Université de Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- TransVIHMI, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Montpellier University, 34090, Montpellier, France
| | | | | | - Edith N. Ngabana
- Pathogen Sequencing Lab, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Université de Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Edward O. Abworo
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Edward Otieno
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Edwin Shumba
- African Society for Laboratory Medicine, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Edwine Barasa
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - El Bara Ahmed
- INRSP, Nouakchott, Mauritania
- Faculté de Médecine de Nouakchott, Nouakchott, Mauritani
| | - Elhadi A. Ahmed
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Gezira, Gezira, Sudan
| | - Emmanuel Lokilo
- Pathogen Sequencing Lab, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | | | - Eromon Philomena
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | | | | | - Etilé A. Anoh
- CHU de Bouaké, Laboratoire/Unité de Diagnostic des Virus des Fièvres Hémorragiques et Virus Émergents, Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Eusebio Manuel
- Direcção Nacional da Saúde Pública, Ministério da Saúde, Luanda, Angola
| | | | - Fahn M. Taweh
- National Public Health Reference Laboratory–National Public Health Institute of Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Fares Wasfi
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar (UTM), Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Fatma Abdelmoula
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Screening Processes, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
- Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
| | | | - Fawzi Derrar
- National Influenza Centre, Institut Pasteur d’Algérie, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Fehintola V. Ajogbasile
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Florette Treurnicht
- Department of Virology, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Folarin Onikepe
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Francine Ntoumi
- Fondation Congolaise pour la Recherche Médicale, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Francisca M. Muyembe
- Pathogen Sequencing Lab, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Université de Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | | | - Fred A. Dratibi
- WHO Int Comoros, Moroni, Union of Comoros
- World Health Organization, Africa Region, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
| | - Fred-Akintunwa Iyanu
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Gabriel K. Mbunsu
- Université de Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | | | | | - George O. Akpede
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Gert U. van Zyl
- Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Gordon A. Awandare
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Grace S. Kpeli
- UHAS COVID-19 Testing and Research Centre, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, PMB 31, Ho, Ghana
| | | | - Gugu P. Maphalala
- Ministry of Health, COVID-19 Testing Laboratory, Mbabane, Kingdom of Eswatini
| | | | - Hannah E. Omunakwe
- Satellite Molecular Laboratory, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
| | - Harris Onywera
- Institute of Pathogen Genomics, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Haruka Abe
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Hela Karray
- CHU Habib Bourguiba, Laboratory of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
| | | | - Henda Triki
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar (UTM), Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | | | - Hesham Elgahzaly
- Faculty of Medicine Ain Shams Research Institute (MASRI), Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hlanai Gumbo
- National Microbiology Reference Laboratory, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Hota Mathieu
- Doctoral School of Technical and Environmental Sciences, Department of Biology and Human Health, N’Djamena, Chad
| | - Hugo Kavunga-Membo
- Pathogen Sequencing Lab, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Ibtihel Smeti
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Screening Processes, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Idowu B. Olawoye
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Ifedayo M. O. Adetifa
- Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria
- Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Ikponmwosa Odia
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Ilhem Boutiba Ben Boubaker
- Charles Nicolle Hospital, Laboratory of Microbiology, National Influenza Center, Tunis, Tunisia
- University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Research Laboratory LR99ES09, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Iluoreh Ahmed Mohammad
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | | | - Isatta Wurie
- College of Medicine and Allied Health Science, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | | | | | - James Ayei
- National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Juba, Republic of South Sudan
| | - Janaki Sonoo
- Virology/Molecular Biology Department, Central Health Laboratory, Victoria Hospital, Ministry of Health and Wellness, Port Louis, Mauritius
| | - Jean-Claude C. Makangara
- Pathogen Sequencing Lab, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Université de Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Jean-Jacques M. Tamfum
- Pathogen Sequencing Lab, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Université de Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Jean-Michel Heraud
- Virology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
- Virology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Jeffrey G. Shaffer
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Jennifer Giandhari
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | | | | | - Jessica N. Uwanibe
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Jinal N. Bhiman
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Jiro Yasuda
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Joana Morais
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola
| | | | - John D. Sandi
- Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Laboratory, Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - John Huddleston
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - John K. Odoom
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | | | - John O. Gyapong
- UHAS COVID-19 Testing and Research Centre, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
| | - John T. Kayiwa
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Johnson C. Okolie
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Joicymara S. Xavier
- Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational Thinking, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Unaí, Brazil
| | - Jones Gyamfi
- UHAS COVID-19 Testing and Research Centre, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
| | | | - Joseph H. K. Bonney
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Joseph Nyandwi
- National Institute of Public Health, Bujumbura, Burundi
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Burundi, Bujumbura, Burundi
| | - Josie Everatt
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Joyce M. Ngoi
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Judith U. Oguzie
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Julia C. Andeko
- Centre Interdisciplinaires de Recherches Medicales de Franceville (CIRMF), Franceville, Gabon
| | | | | | | | - Katherine J. Siddle
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Kayode T. Adeyemi
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Kefentse A. Tumedi
- Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation, Gaborone, Botswana
| | | | | | | | | | - Kwabena O. Duedu
- UHAS COVID-19 Testing and Research Centre, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, PMB 31, Ho, Ghana
| | - Lamia Fki-Berrajah
- CHU Habib Bourguiba, Laboratory of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Lavanya Singh
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Lenora M. Kepler
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Leon Biscornet
- Seychelles Public Health Laboratory, Public Health Authority, Ministry of Health Seychelles, Victoria, Seychelles
| | | | | | - Luicer Olubayo
- Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Computational Biology Division, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Lul Deng Ojok
- National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Juba, Republic of South Sudan
| | - Lul Lojok Deng
- National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Juba, Republic of South Sudan
| | | | - Lynn Tyers
- Division of Medical Virology, Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases in Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Madisa Mine
- National Health Laboratory, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Magalutcheemee Ramuth
- Virology/Molecular Biology Department, Central Health Laboratory, Victoria Hospital, Ministry of Health and Wellness, Port Louis, Mauritius
| | - Maha Mastouri
- Laboratory of Transmissible Diseases and Biologically Active Substances (LR99ES27), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
- Laboratory of Microbiology, University Hospital of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Mahmoud ElHefnawi
- Biomedical Informatics and Chemoinformatics Group, Informatics and Systems Department, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Maimouna Mbanne
- Virology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | | | | | - Mamadou Diop
- Virology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Mambu Momoh
- Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Laboratory, Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Eastern Technical University of Sierra Leone, Kenema, Sierra Leone
| | | | - Marietjie Venter
- Zoonotic Arbo and Respiratory Virus Program, Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Marietou F. Paye
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Martin Faye
- Virology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Martin M. Nyaga
- Next Generation Sequencing Unit and Division of Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | | | - Matoke-Muhia Damaris
- Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Maximillian G. Mpina
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones de Baney, Baney, Equatorial Guinea
- Ifakara Health Insitute, Ifakara, Tanzania
| | - Michael Owusu
- Department of Medical Diagnostics, Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Michael R. Wiley
- University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, USA
- PraesensBio, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Mirabeau Y. Tatfeng
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
| | | | - Mohamed Abouelhoda
- Systems and Biomedical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
- King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Mohamed G. Seadawy
- Biological Prevention Department, Ministry of Defence, Cairo, Egypt
- Faculty of Science, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
| | | | | | - Mouhamed Kane
- Virology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | | | | | | | - Mushal Allam
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - My V. T. Phan
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Nabil Abid
- Laboratory of Transmissible Diseases and Biologically Active Substances (LR99ES27), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
- High Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, University of Monastir, Rue Taher Haddad 5000, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Nadine Rujeni
- Rwanda National Joint Task Force COVID-19, Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Ministry of Health, Kigali, Rwanda
- School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Nadir Abuzaid
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Omdurman Islamic University, Sudan
| | - Nalia Ismael
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Marracuene, Mozambique
| | | | | | - Ndongo Dia
- Virology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Nédio Mabunda
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Marracuene, Mozambique
| | - Nei-yuan Hsiao
- Division of Medical Virology, Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases in Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Ngiambudulu M. Francisco
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
| | - Ngonda Saasa
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Nicholas Bbosa
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | | | - Nicksy Gumede
- World Health Organization, Africa Region, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
| | - Nicole Wolter
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Nikita Sitharam
- Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational Thinking, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Nnaemeka Ndodo
- Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Nnennaya A. Ajayi
- Internal Medicine Department, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria
| | - Noël Tordo
- Institut Pasteur de Guinée, Conarky, Guinea
| | - Nokuzola Mbhele
- Division of Medical Virology, Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases in Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Nosamiefan Iguosadolo
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Nwando Mba
- Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Ojide C. Kingsley
- Virology Laboratory, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria
| | - Okogbenin Sylvanus
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
| | - Oladiji Femi
- Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, Faculty of Clinical Sciences. College of Health Sciences. University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
| | - Olubusuyi M. Adewumi
- Department of Virology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
- Infectious Disease Institute, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Olumade Testimony
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Olusola A. Ogunsanya
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Oluwatosin Fakayode
- Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
| | - Onwe E. Ogah
- Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria
| | - Ope-Ewe Oludayo
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Ousmane Faye
- Virology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | | | - Pascale Ondoa
- African Society for Laboratory Medicine, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Patricia Nabisubi
- The African Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data-Intensive Sciences, The Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda
- Immunology and Molecular Biology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Paul E. Oluniyi
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Paulo Arnaldo
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Marracuene, Mozambique
| | - Peter Kojo Quashie
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Peter O. Okokhere
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria
| | - Philip Bejon
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Philippe Dussart
- Virology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Phillip A. Bester
- Division of Virology, National Health Laboratory Service and University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Placide K. Mbala
- Pathogen Sequencing Lab, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Université de Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Pontiano Kaleebu
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Priscilla Abechi
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Rabeh El-Shesheny
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre (NRC), Cairo, Egypt
- Infectious Hazards Preparedness, World Health Organization, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Rageema Joseph
- Division of Medical Virology, Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases in Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ramy Karam Aziz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
- Microbiology and Immunology Research Program, Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
| | - René G. Essomba
- National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Public Health of Cameroon, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Reuben Ayivor-Djanie
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- UHAS COVID-19 Testing and Research Centre, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, PMB 31, Ho, Ghana
| | - Richard Njouom
- Virology Service, Centre Pasteur of Cameroun, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Richard O. Phillips
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Richmond Gorman
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Rosa Maria D. E. S. A. Neto Rodrigues
- Coordenadora da rede do Diagnóstico Tuberculose/HIV/COVID-19 na Instituição - Laboratório Nacional de Referência da Tuberculose em São Tomé e Príncipe, São Tomé, São Tomé and Principe
- Ponto focal para Melhoria da qualidade dos Laboratórios (SLIPTA) ao nível de São Tomé e Príncipe, São Tomé, São Tomé and Principe
| | - Rosemary A. Audu
- The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Rosina A. A. Carr
- UHAS COVID-19 Testing and Research Centre, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, PMB 31, Ho, Ghana
| | - Saba Gargouri
- CHU Habib Bourguiba, Laboratory of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Saber Masmoudi
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Screening Processes, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
| | | | - Safietou Sankhe
- Virology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | | | - Saibu Femi
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Salma Mhalla
- University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Research Laboratory LR99ES09, Tunis, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Salome Hosch
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Samar Kamal Kassim
- Faculty of Medicine Ain Shams Research Institute (MASRI), Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Samar Metha
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sameh Trabelsi
- Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology Lab, LR16SP02, National Center of Pharmacovigilance, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Sara Hassan Agwa
- Faculty of Medicine Ain Shams Research Institute (MASRI), Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sarah Wambui Mwangi
- Institute of Pathogen Genomics, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Seydou Doumbia
- University Clinical Research Center (UCRC), University of Sciences, Techniques and Technology of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
| | - Sheila Makiala-Mandanda
- Pathogen Sequencing Lab, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Université de Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Sherihane Aryeetey
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | | | - Siham Elhamoumi
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sikhulile Moyo
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership and Botswana Harvard HIV Reference Laboratory, Gaborone, Botswana
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Silvia Lutucuta
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
| | - Simani Gaseitsiwe
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership and Botswana Harvard HIV Reference Laboratory, Gaborone, Botswana
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Simbirie Jalloh
- Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Laboratory, Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | | | - Sobajo Oguntope
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | | | - Sonia Lekana-Douki
- Centre Interdisciplinaires de Recherches Medicales de Franceville (CIRMF), Franceville, Gabon
| | | | - Soumeya Ouangraoua
- Centre MURAZ, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
- National Institute of Public Health of Burkina Faso (INSP/BF), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Stephanie van Wyk
- Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational Thinking, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Stephen F. Schaffner
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Stephen Kanyerezi
- The African Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data-Intensive Sciences, The Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda
- Immunology and Molecular Biology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Steve Ahuka-Mundeke
- Pathogen Sequencing Lab, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Université de Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | | | - Sureshnee Pillay
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Susan Nabadda
- Central Public Health Laboratories (CPHL), Kampala, Uganda
| | - Sylvie Behillil
- National Reference Center for Respiratory Viruses, Molecular Genetics of RNA Viruses, UMR 3569 CNRS, Université Paris Cité, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | | | - Sylvie van der Werf
- National Reference Center for Respiratory Viruses, Molecular Genetics of RNA Viruses, UMR 3569 CNRS, Université Paris Cité, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Tapfumanei Mashe
- National Microbiology Reference Laboratory, Harare, Zimbabwe
- World Health Organization, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Thabo Mohale
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Thirumalaisamy P. Velavan
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Tobias Schindler
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones de Baney, Baney, Equatorial Guinea
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tongai G. Maponga
- Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Trevor Bedford
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ugochukwu J. Anyaneji
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Ugwu Chinedu
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Upasana Ramphal
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
- Sub-Saharan African Network For TB/HIV Research Excellence (SANTHE), Durban, South Africa
| | - Uwem E. George
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Vincent Enouf
- National Reference Center for Respiratory Viruses, Molecular Genetics of RNA Viruses, UMR 3569 CNRS, Université Paris Cité, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Vishvanath Nene
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Vivianne Gorova
- World Health Organization, WHO Lesotho, Maseru, Lesotho
- Med24 Medical Centre, Ruwa, Zimbabwe
| | | | - Wasim Abdul Karim
- Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational Thinking, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - William K. Ampofo
- Department of Virology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Wolfgang Preiser
- Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Wonderful T. Choga
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership and Botswana Harvard HIV Reference Laboratory, Gaborone, Botswana
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Yahaya Ali Ahmed
- World Health Organization, Africa Region, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
| | - Yajna Ramphal
- Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational Thinking, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Yaw Bediako
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- Yemaachi Biotech, Accra, Ghana
| | - Yeshnee Naidoo
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Yvan Butera
- Rwanda National Joint Task Force COVID-19, Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Ministry of Health, Kigali, Rwanda
- Center for Human Genetics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
- Laboratory of Human Genetics, GIGA Research Institute, Liège, Belgium
| | | | - Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative (Africa PGI)
- Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational Thinking, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
- The Biotechnology Centre of the University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- CDC Foundation, Atlanta, Georgia, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Lincoln, NE, USA
- Institute of Pathogen Genomics, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Computational Biology Division, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases in Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Virology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Department of Microbial, Cellular and Molecular Biology, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Cancer Biology Department, Virology and Immunology Unit, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
- World Health Organization, Africa Region, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
- Centre d’Infectiologie Charles Mérieux-Mali (CICM-Mali), Bamako, Mali
- Bacteriology and Virology Department Souro Sanou University Hospital, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
- West African Health Organisation, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kassala University, Kassala City, Sudan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Gezira, Gezira, Sudan
- General Administration of Laboratories and Blood Banks, Ministry of Health, Kassala State, Sudan
- MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM, Fajara, Gambia
- National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Juba, Republic of South Sudan
- Libyan Biotechnology Research Center, Tripoli, Libya
- Center for Medical and Sanitary Research (CERMES), Niamey, Niger
- The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
- Laboratoire de la Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale, Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti
- Department of Virology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
- Infectious Disease Institute, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
- Medical Microbiology and Parasitology Department, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
- Biorepository Clinical Virology Laboratory, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
- The Pirbright Institute, Woking, UK
- Pathogen Sequencing Lab, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Université de Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- National Microbiology Reference Laboratory, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Center of Scientific Excellence for Influenza Viruses, National Research Centre (NRC), Cairo, Egypt
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Screening Processes, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
- Genomics and Epigenomics Program, Research Department CCHE57357, Cairo, Egypt
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular Jean Piaget, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
- University Jean Piaget in Guinea-Bissau, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
- SAMRC Bioinformatics Unit, SA Bioinformatics Institute, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich, UK
- Central Public Health Reference Laboratories, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Centre de Recherche et de Formation en Infectiologie de Guinée (CERFIG), Université de Conakry, Conakry, Guinea
- TransVIHMI, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Montpellier University, 34090, Montpellier, France
- University Clinical Research Center (UCRC), University of Sciences, Techniques and Technology of Bamako, Bamako, Mali
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Central Public Health Laboratories (CPHL), Cairo, Egypt
- National Institute of Public Health, Bujumbura, Burundi
- Laboratoire des Fièvres Hémorragiques Virales du Benin, Cotonou, Benin
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, University Tunis El Manar (UTM), Tunis 1002, Tunisia
- Research Laboratory “Virus, Vectors and Hosts: One Health Apporach and Technological Innovation for a Better Health”, LR20IPT02, Pasteur Institute, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
- Fondation Congolaise pour la Recherche Médicale, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
- Marien Ngouabi, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Laboratory, Kenema Government Hospital, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Department of Immunology, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, P.M.B. 1414, Maiduguri, Nigeria
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B. 1069, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria
- Centre Interdisciplinaires de Recherches Medicales de Franceville (CIRMF), Franceville, Gabon
- Département de Parasitologie-Mycologie Université des Sciences de la Santé (USS), Libreville, Gabon
- National HIV Reference Laboratory, Community Health Sciences Unit, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi
- African Society for Laboratory Medicine, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- National Medical and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti
- Africa CDC, Rapid Responder, Team Djibouti, Djibouti, Djibouti
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
- Seychelles Public Health Laboratory, Public Health Authority, Ministry of Health Seychelles, Victoria, Seychelles
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Virology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar
- National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Cape Town, South Africa
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
- University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, USA
- SAMRC Antibody Immunity Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- CHU de Bouaké, Laboratoire/Unité de Diagnostic des Virus des Fièvres Hémorragiques et Virus Émergents, Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire
- UFR Sciences Médicales, Universite Alassane Ouattara, Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire
- School of Public Health, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya
- Faculty of Science and Techniques, University Marien Ngouabi, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
- Centre for Human Virology and Genomics, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
- Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Abuja, Nigeria
- Laboratoire des Arbovirus, Fièvres Hémorragiques virales, Virus Emergents et Zoonoses, Institut Pasteur de Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic
- Le Laboratoire National de Biologie Clinique et de Santé Publique (LNBCSP), Bangui, Central African Republic
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria
- PATH, Lusaka, Zambia
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- School of Life Sciences and Zeeman Institute for Systems Biology and Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research (SBIDER), University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
- PathCare Vermaak, Pretoria, South Africa and Division of Virology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
- College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership and Botswana Harvard HIV Reference Laboratory, Gaborone, Botswana
- Macha Research Trust, Choma, Zambia
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya
- INRSP, Nouakchott, Mauritania
- Faculté de Médecine de Nouakchott, Nouakchott, Mauritani
- Rwanda National Reference Laboratory, Kigali, Rwanda
- Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany
- G5 Evolutionary Genomics of RNA Viruses, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- Direcção Nacional da Saúde Pública, Ministério da Saúde, Luanda, Angola
- National Public Health Reference Laboratory–National Public Health Institute of Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
- Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
- National Influenza Centre, Institut Pasteur d’Algérie, Algiers, Algeria
- Department of Virology, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Ministère de Santé Publique et de la Solidarité Nationale, Ndjamena, Chad
- WHO Int Comoros, Moroni, Union of Comoros
- World Health Organization, Africa Region, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
- Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa
- UHAS COVID-19 Testing and Research Centre, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, PMB 31, Ho, Ghana
- Ministry of Health, COVID-19 Testing Laboratory, Mbabane, Kingdom of Eswatini
- Satellite Molecular Laboratory, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
- Department of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- CHU Habib Bourguiba, Laboratory of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
- Central Public Health Laboratories (CPHL), Kampala, Uganda
- Institut Pasteur de Côte d’Ivoire, Departement des Virus Epidemiques, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
- Faculty of Medicine Ain Shams Research Institute (MASRI), Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
- Doctoral School of Technical and Environmental Sciences, Department of Biology and Human Health, N’Djamena, Chad
- Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Charles Nicolle Hospital, Laboratory of Microbiology, National Influenza Center, Tunis, Tunisia
- University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Research Laboratory LR99ES09, Tunis, Tunisia
- College of Medicine and Allied Health Science, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Namibia Institute of Pathology, Windhoek, Namibia
- National Institute of Hygiene, Lomé, Togo
- Virology/Molecular Biology Department, Central Health Laboratory, Victoria Hospital, Ministry of Health and Wellness, Port Louis, Mauritius
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- WHO Burundi, Gitega, Burundi
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Unaí, Brazil
- WHO South Sudan, Juba, South Sudan
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Burundi, Bujumbura, Burundi
- Pasteur Network, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation, Gaborone, Botswana
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde Pública, Praia, Cape Verde
- Zambia National Public Health Institute, Lusaka, Zambia
- Public Health Institute of Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
- National Health Laboratory, Gaborone, Botswana
- Laboratory of Transmissible Diseases and Biologically Active Substances (LR99ES27), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
- Laboratory of Microbiology, University Hospital of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
- Biomedical Informatics and Chemoinformatics Group, Informatics and Systems Department, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
- Ministry of Health and Wellness, Gaborone, Botswana
- Eastern Technical University of Sierra Leone, Kenema, Sierra Leone
- Zoonotic Arbo and Respiratory Virus Program, Centre for Viral Zoonoses, Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Next Generation Sequencing Unit and Division of Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
- National Reference Laboratory Lesotho, Maseru, Lesotho
- Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones de Baney, Baney, Equatorial Guinea
- Ifakara Health Insitute, Ifakara, Tanzania
- Department of Medical Diagnostics, Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- PraesensBio, Lincoln, NE, USA
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
- Systems and Biomedical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
- King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Biological Prevention Department, Ministry of Defence, Cairo, Egypt
- Faculty of Science, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
- Molecular Pathology Lab, Children’s Cancer Hospital, Cairo, Egypt
- Laboratoire Biolim FSS/Université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- High Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, University of Monastir, Rue Taher Haddad 5000, Monastir, Tunisia
- Rwanda National Joint Task Force COVID-19, Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Ministry of Health, Kigali, Rwanda
- School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Omdurman Islamic University, Sudan
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Marracuene, Mozambique
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
- Internal Medicine Department, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria
- Institut Pasteur de Guinée, Conarky, Guinea
- Virology Laboratory, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria
- Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, Faculty of Clinical Sciences. College of Health Sciences. University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
- Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
- Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria
- Mayotte Hospital Center, Mayotte, France
- The African Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data-Intensive Sciences, The Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda
- Immunology and Molecular Biology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria
- Division of Virology, National Health Laboratory Service and University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
- Infectious Hazards Preparedness, World Health Organization, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, Cairo, Egypt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
- Microbiology and Immunology Research Program, Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
- National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Public Health of Cameroon, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Virology Service, Centre Pasteur of Cameroun, Yaounde, Cameroon
- Coordenadora da rede do Diagnóstico Tuberculose/HIV/COVID-19 na Instituição - Laboratório Nacional de Referência da Tuberculose em São Tomé e Príncipe, São Tomé, São Tomé and Principe
- Ponto focal para Melhoria da qualidade dos Laboratórios (SLIPTA) ao nível de São Tomé e Príncipe, São Tomé, São Tomé and Principe
- National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL), Mogadishu, Somalia
- Faculty of Medicine of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology Lab, LR16SP02, National Center of Pharmacovigilance, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Centre MURAZ, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
- National Institute of Public Health of Burkina Faso (INSP/BF), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
- National Reference Center for Respiratory Viruses, Molecular Genetics of RNA Viruses, UMR 3569 CNRS, Université Paris Cité, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- World Health Organization, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- Sub-Saharan African Network For TB/HIV Research Excellence (SANTHE), Durban, South Africa
- World Health Organization, WHO Lesotho, Maseru, Lesotho
- Med24 Medical Centre, Ruwa, Zimbabwe
- Department of Virology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Yemaachi Biotech, Accra, Ghana
- Center for Human Genetics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
- Laboratory of Human Genetics, GIGA Research Institute, Liège, Belgium
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ahmed E. O. Ouma
- Institute of Pathogen Genomics, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Anne von Gottberg
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - George Githinji
- KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Matshidiso Moeti
- World Health Organization, Africa Region, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
| | - Oyewale Tomori
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Pardis C. Sabeti
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Amadou A. Sall
- Virology Department, Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal
| | - Samuel O. Oyola
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Yenew K. Tebeje
- Institute of Pathogen Genomics, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Sofonias K. Tessema
- Institute of Pathogen Genomics, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Tulio de Oliveira
- Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational Thinking, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Christian Happi
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
| | - Richard Lessells
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - John Nkengasong
- Institute of Pathogen Genomics, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Eduan Wilkinson
- Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational Thinking, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
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20
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Lambrecht NJ, Bridges D, Wilson ML, Adu B, Eisenberg JNS, Folson G, Baylin A, Jones AD. Associations of bacterial enteropathogens with systemic inflammation, iron deficiency, and anemia in preschool-age children in southern Ghana. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271099. [PMID: 35802561 PMCID: PMC9269377 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Anemia remains a pervasive public health problem among preschool-age children in Ghana. Recent analyses have found that anemia in Ghanaian children, particularly in Southern regions, is largely attributable to infectious causes, rather than nutritional factors. Infections with enteropathogens can reduce iron absorption and increase systemic inflammation, but few studies have examined direct links between enteropathogens and anemia. This study investigated associations between detection of individual bacterial enteropathogens and systemic inflammation, iron deficiency, and anemia among 6- to 59-month-old children in Greater Accra, Ghana. Serum samples were analyzed from a cross-sectional sample of 262 children for concentrations of hemoglobin (Hb), biomarkers of systemic inflammation [C-reactive protein (CRP) and α-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP)], and biomarkers of iron status [serum ferritin (SF) and serum transferrin receptor (sTfR)]. Stool samples were analyzed for ten bacterial enteropathogens using qPCR. We estimated associations between presence of each enteropathogen and elevated systemic inflammation (CRP > 5 mg/L and AGP > 1 g/L), iron deficiency (SF < 12 μg/L and sTfR > 8.3 mg/L) and anemia (Hb < 110 g/L). Enteropathogens were detected in 87% of children’s stool despite a low prevalence of diarrhea (6.5%). Almost half (46%) of children had anemia while one-quarter (24%) had iron deficiency (low SF). Despite finding no associations with illness symptoms, Campylobacter jejuni/coli detection was strongly associated with elevated CRP [Odds Ratio (95% CI): 3.49 (1.45, 8.41)] and elevated AGP [4.27 (1.85, 9.84)]. Of the pathogens examined, only enteroinvasive Escherichia coli/Shigella spp. (EIEC/Shigella) was associated with iron deficiency, and enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) [1.69 (1.01, 2.84)] and EIEC/Shigella [2.34 (1.15, 4.76)] were associated with anemia. These results suggest that certain enteroinvasive pathogenic bacteria may contribute to child anemia. Reducing exposure to enteropathogens through improved water, sanitation, and hygiene practices may help reduce the burden of anemia in young Ghanaian children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie J. Lambrecht
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
- Institute of Public Health, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Research Department 2, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Member of the Leibniz Association, Potsdam, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Dave Bridges
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Mark L. Wilson
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Joseph N. S. Eisenberg
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Gloria Folson
- Department of Nutrition, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Ana Baylin
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Andrew D. Jones
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
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21
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Sakyi SA, Wilson MD, Adu B, Opoku S, Brewoo A, Larbi A, Baafour EK, Tchum SK, Saahene RO, Aniagyei W, Sewor C, Courtin D, Cappello M, Gyan B, Amoani B. Plasmodium falciparum coinfection is associated with improved IgE and IgG3 response against hookworm antigens. Health Sci Rep 2022; 5:e672. [PMID: 35734341 PMCID: PMC9195015 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Plasmodium falciparum and Hookworm infections are prevalent in West Africa and they cause iron deficiency anemia and protein malnutrition in Children. Immune response of these parasites interact and their interactions could have repercussions on vaccine development and efficacy. The current goal of hookworm eradication lies on vaccination. We evaluated the effect of P. falciparum coinfection and albendazole treatment on naturally acquired antibody profile against hookworm L3 stage larvae antigen. Methods In a longitudinal study, 40 individuals infected with Necator americanus only, 63 participants infected with N. americanus and P. falciparum, and 36 nonendemic controls (NECs) were recruited. The study was done in the Kintampo North Metropolis of Ghana. Stool and blood samples were taken for laboratory analyses. Serum samples were obtained before hookworm treatment and 3 weeks after treatment. Results The malaria-hookworm (N. americanus and P. falciparum) coinfected subjects had significantly higher levels of IgE (β = 0.30, 95% CI = [0.12, 0.48], p = 0.023) and IgG3 (β = 0.15, 95% CI = [0.02, 0.52], p = 0.004) compared to those infected with hookworm only (N. americanus). The N. americanus groups had significantly higher levels of IgG3 (β = 0.39, 95% CI = [0.14-0.62], p = 0.002) compared to the control group. Similarly, N. americanus and P. falciparum coinfected participants had significantly higher levels of IgE (β = 0.35, 95% CI = [0.70-0.39], p = 0.002) and IgG3 (β = 0.54, 95% CI = [0.22-0.76], p = 0.002). Moreover, albendazole treatment led to a significant reduction in IgE, IgA, IgM, and IgG3 antibodies against hookworm L3 stage larvae (p < 0.05). Conclusion P. falciparum is associated with improved IgE and IgG response against hookworm L3 stage larvae. Treatment with single dose of albendazole led to reduction in naturally acquired immune response against hookworm infection. Thus, P. falciparum infection may have a boosting effect on hookworm vaccine effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel A. Sakyi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medical SciencesKwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyKumasiGhana
| | - Michael D. Wilson
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical ResearchCollege of Health Sciences, University of GhanaLegonGhana
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical ResearchCollege of Health Sciences, University of GhanaLegonGhana
| | - Stephen Opoku
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medical SciencesKwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyKumasiGhana
- Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research in Tropical MedicineKumasiGhana
| | - Antwi Brewoo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medical SciencesUniversity of Cape CoastCapeGhana
| | - Amma Larbi
- Department of Biochemistry and BiotechnologyKwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyKumasiGhana
| | - Emmanuel K. Baafour
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical ResearchCollege of Health Sciences, University of GhanaLegonGhana
| | - Samuel K. Tchum
- Kintampo Health Research Center, Ghana Health ServiceKintampo‐NorthGhana
| | - Roland O. Saahene
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medical SciencesUniversity of Cape CoastCapeGhana
| | - Wilfred Aniagyei
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medical SciencesKwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyKumasiGhana
- Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research in Tropical MedicineKumasiGhana
| | - Christian Sewor
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Allied Health SciencesUniversity of Cape CoastCape CoastGhana
| | - David Courtin
- UMR 261 MERITInstitut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Université de ParisParisFrance
| | - Michael Cappello
- Partnerships for Global Health, Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of MedicineYale UniversityNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Ben Gyan
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical ResearchCollege of Health Sciences, University of GhanaLegonGhana
| | - Benjamin Amoani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Allied Health SciencesUniversity of Cape CoastCape CoastGhana
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22
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Dassah S, Adu B, Tiendrebeogo RW, Singh SK, Arthur FKN, Sirima SB, Theisen M. GMZ2 Vaccine-Induced Antibody Responses, Naturally Acquired Immunity and the Incidence of Malaria in Burkinabe Children. Front Immunol 2022; 13:899223. [PMID: 35720297 PMCID: PMC9200992 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.899223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
GMZ2 is a malaria vaccine candidate evaluated in a phase 2b multi-centre trial. Here we assessed antibody responses and the association of naturally acquired immunity with incidence of malaria in one of the trial sites, Banfora in Burkina Faso. The analysis included 453 (GMZ2 = 230, rabies = 223) children aged 12-60 months old. Children were followed-up for clinical malaria episodes for 12 months after final vaccine administration. Antibody levels against GMZ2 and eleven non-GMZ2 antigens were measured on days 0 and 84 (one month after final vaccine dose). Vaccine efficacy (VE) differed by age group (interaction, (12-35 months compared to 36-60 months), p = 0.0615). During the twelve months of follow-up, VE was 1% (95% confidence interval [CI] -17%, 17%) and 23% ([CI] 3%, 40%) in the 12 - 35 and 36 - 60 months old children, respectively. In the GMZ2 group, day 84 anti-GMZ2 IgG levels were associated with reduced incidence of febrile malaria during the follow up periods of 1-6 months (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.87, 95%CI = (0.77, 0.98)) and 7-12 months (HR = 0.84, 95%CI = (0.71, 0.98)) in the 36-60 months old but not in 12-35 months old children. Multivariate analysis involving day 84 IgG levels to eleven non-vaccine antigens, identified MSP3-K1 and GLURP-R2 to be associated with reduced incidence of malaria during the 12 months of follow up. The inclusion of these antigens might improve GMZ2 vaccine efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvester Dassah
- Navrongo Health Research Centre, Navrongo, Ghana.,Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Régis W Tiendrebeogo
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology, and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susheel K Singh
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology, and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Fareed K N Arthur
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Sodiomon B Sirima
- Groupe de Recherche Action en Senté (GRAS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
| | - Michael Theisen
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology, and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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23
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Mama A, Ahiabor C, Tornyigah B, Frempong NA, Kusi KA, Adu B, Courtin D, Houzé S, Deloron P, Ofori MF, Anang AK, Ariey F, Ndam NT. Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy with sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine and parasite resistance: cross-sectional surveys from antenatal care visit and delivery in rural Ghana. Malar J 2022; 21:107. [PMID: 35346205 PMCID: PMC8962208 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04124-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite decades of prevention efforts, the burden of malaria in pregnancy (MiP) remains a great public health concern. Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), used as intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp-SP) is an important component of the malaria prevention strategy implemented in Africa. However, IPTp-SP is under constant threat from parasite resistance, thus requires regular evaluation to inform decision-making bodies. Methods In two malaria endemic communities in the Volta region (Adidome and Battor), a cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted in pregnant women recruited at their first antenatal care (ANC) visit and at delivery. Basic clinical and demographic information were documented and their antenatal records were reviewed to confirm IPTp-SP adherence. Peripheral and placental blood were assayed for the presence of Plasmodium falciparum parasites by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). One hundred and twenty (120) positive samples were genotyped for mutations associated with SP resistance. Results At first ANC visit, P. falciparum prevalence was 28.8% in Adidome and 18.2% in Battor. At delivery, this decreased to 14.2% and 8.2%, respectively. At delivery, 66.2% of the women had taken at least the recommended 3 or more doses of IPTp-SP and there was no difference between the two communities. Taking at least 3 IPTp-SP doses was associated with an average birth weight increase of more than 360 g at both study sites compared to women who did not take treatment (p = 0.003). The Pfdhfr/Pfdhps quintuple mutant IRNI-A/FGKAA was the most prevalent (46.7%) haplotype found and the nonsynonymous Pfdhps mutation at codon A581G was higher at delivery among post-SP treatment isolates (40.6%) compared to those of first ANC (10.22%). There was also an increase in the A581G mutation in isolates from women who took 3 or more IPTp-SP. Conclusions This study confirms a positive impact following the implementation of the new IPTp-SP policy in Ghana in increasing the birth weight of newborns. However, the selection pressure exerted by the recommended 3 or more doses of IPTp-SP results in the emergence of parasites carrying the non-synonymous mutation on codon A581G. This constant selective pressure calls into question the time remaining for the clinical utility of IPTp-SP treatment during pregnancy in Africa.
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24
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Adu B, Bonney JKH, Odoom JK, Bonney EYA, Obodai E, Asante IA, Aboagye J, Adusei-Poku MA, Lartey L, Asiedu EK, Ampofo WK, Kyei GB. SARS-CoV-2 detection among international air travellers to Ghana during mandatory quarantine. Ghana Med J 2022; 55:48-50. [PMID: 35233114 PMCID: PMC8853690 DOI: 10.4314/gmj.v55i2s.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives To determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 detection among international travellers to Ghana during mandatory quarantine. Design A retrospective cross-sectional study. Setting Air travellers to Ghana on 21st and 22nd March 2020. Participants On 21st and 22nd March 2020, a total of 1,030 returning international travellers were mandatorily quarantined in 15 different hotels in Accra and tested for SARS-CoV-2. All of these persons were included in the study. Main outcome measure Positivity for SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction. Results The initial testing at the beginning of quarantine found 79 (7.7%) individuals to be positive for SARS-CoV-2. In the exit screening after 12 to 13 days of quarantine, it was discovered that 26 of those who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 in the initial screening subsequently tested positive. Conclusions Ghana likely averted an early community spread of COVID-19 through the proactive approach to quarantine international travellers during the early phase of the pandemic. Funding None
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Affiliation(s)
- Bright Adu
- Immunology Department. Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. Off Akilagpa Sawyerr Road. PO Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Joseph K H Bonney
- Virology Department. Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. Off Akilagpa Sawyerr Road. PO Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - John K Odoom
- Virology Department. Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. Off Akilagpa Sawyerr Road. PO Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Evelyn Y A Bonney
- Virology Department. Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. Off Akilagpa Sawyerr Road. PO Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Evangeline Obodai
- Virology Department. Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. Off Akilagpa Sawyerr Road. PO Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Ivy A Asante
- Virology Department. Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. Off Akilagpa Sawyerr Road. PO Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - James Aboagye
- Virology Department. Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. Off Akilagpa Sawyerr Road. PO Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Mildred A Adusei-Poku
- Department of Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School. College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. PO Box GP 4236, Accra, Ghana
| | - Lawrence Lartey
- Disease Surveillance Department, Ghana Health Service, Private Mail Bag, Ministries, Accra. Ghana
| | - Ernest K Asiedu
- National Quality Management Unit, Ministry of Health, P.O.Box M 44, Ministries, Accra, Ghana
| | - William K Ampofo
- Immunology Department. Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. Off Akilagpa Sawyerr Road. PO Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - George B Kyei
- Virology Department. Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. Off Akilagpa Sawyerr Road. PO Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana.,Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO, USA
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25
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Obodai E, Kyei GB, Aboagye J, Bonney EY, Asante IA, Bonney JKH, Adusei-Poku M, Lamptey H, Adu B, Kenu E, Koram KA, Ampofo WK, Odoom JK. Data management during COVID-19 outbreak response in Ghana: a reference laboratory perspective on key issues and measures. Ghana Med J 2022; 55:51-55. [PMID: 35233115 PMCID: PMC8853698 DOI: 10.4314/gmj.v55i2s.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 is an important subject for global health. Ghana experienced low-moderate transmission of the disease when the first case was detected in March 12, 2020 until the middle of July when the number of cases begun to drop. By August 24, 2020, the country's total number of confirmed cases stood at 43,622, with 263 deaths. By the same time, the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) of the University of Ghana, the primary testing centre for COVID-19, had tested 285,501 with 28,878 confirmed cases. Due to database gaps, there were initial challenges with timely reporting and feedback to stakeholders during the peak surveillance period. The gaps resulted from mismatches between samples and their accompanying case investigation forms, samples without case investigation forms and vice versa, huge data entry requirements, and delayed test results. However, a revamp in data management procedures, and systems helped to improve the turnaround time for reporting results to all interested parties and partners. Additionally, inconsistencies such as multiple entries and discrepant patient-sample information were resolved by introducing a barcoding electronic capture system. Here, we describe the main challenges with COVID-19 data management and analysis in the laboratory and recommend measures for improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangeline Obodai
- Virology Department. Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. Off Akilagpa Sawyerr Road. PO Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - George B Kyei
- Virology Department. Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. Off Akilagpa Sawyerr Road. PO Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana.,Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St Louis, MO, 63110
| | - James Aboagye
- Virology Department. Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. Off Akilagpa Sawyerr Road. PO Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Evelyn Y Bonney
- Virology Department. Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. Off Akilagpa Sawyerr Road. PO Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Ivy A Asante
- Virology Department. Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. Off Akilagpa Sawyerr Road. PO Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Joseph K H Bonney
- Virology Department. Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. Off Akilagpa Sawyerr Road. PO Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Mildred Adusei-Poku
- Department of Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School. College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. PO Box GP 4236, Accra, Ghana
| | - Helena Lamptey
- Immunology Department. Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. Off Akilagpa Sawyerr Road. PO Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Immunology Department. Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. Off Akilagpa Sawyerr Road. PO Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Ernest Kenu
- Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kwadwo A Koram
- Department of Epidemiology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. Off Akilagpa Sawyerr Road. PO Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - William K Ampofo
- Virology Department. Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. Off Akilagpa Sawyerr Road. PO Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - John K Odoom
- Virology Department. Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana. Off Akilagpa Sawyerr Road. PO Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana
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26
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León-Lara X, Yang T, Fichtner AS, Bruni E, von Kaisenberg C, Eiz-Vesper B, Dodoo D, Adu B, Ravens S. Evidence for an Adult-Like Type 1-Immunity Phenotype of Vδ1, Vδ2 and Vδ3 T Cells in Ghanaian Children With Repeated Exposure to Malaria. Front Immunol 2022; 13:807765. [PMID: 35250979 PMCID: PMC8891705 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.807765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Effector capabilities of γδ T cells are evident in Plasmodium infection in young and adult individuals, while children are the most vulnerable groups affected by malaria. Here, we aimed to investigate the age-dependent phenotypic composition of Vδ1+, Vδ2+, and Vδ3+ T cells in children living in endemic malaria areas and how this differs between children that will develop symptomatic and asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infections. Flow cytometric profiling of naïve and effector peripheral blood γδ T cells was performed in 6 neonates, 10 adults, and 52 children. The study population of young children, living in the same malaria endemic region of Ghana, was monitored for symptomatic vs asymptomatic malaria development for up to 42 weeks after peripheral blood sampling at baseline. For the Vδ2+ T cell population, there was evidence for an established type 1 effector phenotype, characterized by CD94 and CD16 expression, as early as 1 year of life. This was similar among children diagnosed with symptomatic or asymptomatic malaria. In contrast, the proportion of type 2- and type 3-like Vδ2 T cells declined during early childhood. Furthermore, for Vδ1+ and Vδ3+ T cells, similar phenotypes of naïve (CD27+) and type 1 effector (CD16+) cells were observed, while the proportion of CD16+ Vδ1+ T cells was highest in children with asymptomatic malaria. In summary, we give evidence for an established adult-like γδ T cell compartment in early childhood with similar biology of Vδ1+ and Vδ3+ T cells. Moreover, the data supports the idea that type 1 effector Vδ1+ T cells mediate the acquisition of and can potentially serve as biomarker for natural immunity to P. falciparum infections in young individuals from malaria-endemic settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ximena León-Lara
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Tao Yang
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Elena Bruni
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Constantin von Kaisenberg
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Britta Eiz-Vesper
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Engineering, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Daniel Dodoo
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- *Correspondence: Sarina Ravens, ; Bright Adu,
| | - Sarina Ravens
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Resolving Infection Susceptibility (RESIST) (EXC 2155), Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
- *Correspondence: Sarina Ravens, ; Bright Adu,
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27
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Lambrecht NJ, Wilson ML, Bridges D, Eisenberg JNS, Adu B, Baylin A, Folson G, Jones AD. Ruminant-Related Risk Factors are Associated with Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Infection in Children in Southern Ghana. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2022; 106:513-522. [PMID: 34844207 PMCID: PMC8832919 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Livestock can provide benefits to low-income households, yet may expose children to zoonotic enteropathogens that cause illness and negative long-term health outcomes. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine whether livestock-related risk factors, including animal ownership, exposure to animal feces, and consumption of animal-source foods, were associated with bacterial zoonotic enteropathogen infections in children 6-59 months old in Greater Accra, Ghana. Stool samples from 259 children and 156 household chickens were analyzed for atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (aEPEC), Campylobacter jejuni/coli (C. jejuni/coli), Salmonella, and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). aEPEC, C. jejuni/coli, STEC, and Salmonella were detected in 45.6%, 11.6%, 4.3%, and 0.8% of children's stool samples, respectively. In adjusted logistic regression models, household ownership of goats or sheep was associated with STEC detection in children (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 4.30 [1.32, 14.08]), as were positive detection of STEC in chicken feces (7.85 [2.54, 24.30]) and frequent consumption of fresh cow's milk (3.03 [1.75, 5.24]). No livestock-related risk factors were associated with aEPEC or C. jejuni/coli infection in children. Our findings suggest that ruminant ownership in southern Ghana may expose children to STEC through household fecal contamination and foodborne routes. The lack of association between livestock risk factors and the more commonly detected pathogens, aEPEC and C. jejuni/coli, warrants further research, particularly to help explain how animal-keeping and sanitation practices affect transmission of fecal pathogens that were highly prevalent in chicken feces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie J. Lambrecht
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan;,Address correspondence to Nathalie J. Lambrecht, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Public Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany. E-mail:
| | - Mark L. Wilson
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Dave Bridges
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Joseph N. S. Eisenberg
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Ana Baylin
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan;,Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Gloria Folson
- Department of Nutrition, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Andrew D. Jones
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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28
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Kyei-Baafour E, Kusi KA, Arthur FKN, Sarkodie-Addo T, Theisen M, Dodoo D, Adu B. IgG3 hinge region length polymorphism is associated with cerebral malaria in Ghanaian children. J Infect Dis 2021; 225:1786-1790. [PMID: 34718631 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebral malaria may cause mortality or long-term neurological damage in children and several host genetic risk factors have been reported. Malarial-specific IgG3 antibodies are crucial to human immune response against malaria. The hinge region of IgG3 exhibits length polymorphism (L-long, M-medium, S-short alleles) which may influence its functionality. Here, we studied IgG3 hinge region length polymorphisms in 136 Ghanaian children with malaria. Using logistic regression models, we found children with the recessive MM allotype encoding medium IgG3 hinge region length had an increased risk (aOR=6.67; 95%CI=1.30-34.32, p=0.004) of cerebral malaria. This has implications for future epidemiological studies on cerebral malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Kyei-Baafour
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.,Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Kwadwo A Kusi
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Fareed K N Arthur
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Tracy Sarkodie-Addo
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Michael Theisen
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daniel Dodoo
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
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29
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Tchum SK, Sakyi SA, Adu B, Arthur F, Oppong FB, Dzabeng F, Amoani B, Gyan T, Poku-Asante K. Impact of IgG response to malaria-specific antigens and immunity against malaria in pre-school children in Ghana. A cluster randomized, placebo-controlled trial. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253544. [PMID: 34283841 PMCID: PMC8291688 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Iron fortification and micronutrient initiatives, specifically, vitamin A, and zinc supplementation are the most cost-effective developmental strategies against malnutrition and health emergencies in pre-school children. Iron-deficiency among pre-school children have been documented, however, studies evaluating the impact of immunoglobulin G (IgG) isotype responses among iron-fortified pre-school children in malaria endemic communities has not been assessed. We evaluated the impact of iron fortification on the IgG responses to GLURP R0, GLURP R2 and MSP3 FVO malaria-specific antigens among pre-school children in malaria endemic areas. Methods This community-based, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, cluster-randomized trial study was conducted in Wenchi Municipal and Tain District of Bono Region. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov-registered trial (Identifier: NCT01001871). Ethical approval was obtained and informed consent were sought from each participant parents/guardian. For the current objective, 871 children aged 6–35 months were screened, from which 435 children received semi-liquid home-made meals mixed with 12.5 mg of iron daily (intervention group), and 436 received micronutrient powder without iron (placebo group) for 5 months. Standardized clinical and epidemiological questionnaires were administered and blood samples taken to measure IgG responses to GLURP R0, GLURP R2 and MSP3 FVO recombinant antigens using the Afro Immunoassay (AIA) protocol. Results Baseline anthropometry, malaria diagnosis, anaemia and iron status, demographic features and dietary intake were identical among the groups (p > 0.05). After the intervention, there was no significant difference in the IgG response against GLUP R0, GLUP R2 and MSP3 FVO between the iron-containing micronutrient and placebo groups (p > 0.05). The iron-containing micronutrient powder group who were iron-sufficient or iron replete had significantly higher IgG response to GLURP R0 and GLURP R2 compared to iron-deficient and iron-deficiency anaemia in the same group (p < 0.05). The IgG responses to all the three malaria specific antigens were low among children without malaria episode but high among those with two and four episodes due to exposure differences. Conclusion Iron fortification did not influence antibody response against endogenous malaria specific antigens among pre-school children in malaria endemic areas, however, IgG response to malaria specific antigens were high among children with sufficient iron status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Kofi Tchum
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, College of Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo-North, Ghana
| | - Samuel Asamoah Sakyi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- * E-mail:
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, College of Health Sciences, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Fareed Arthur
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, College of Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | | | - Benjamin Amoani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Thomas Gyan
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Kintampo-North, Ghana
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30
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Dassah S, Adu B, Sirima SB, Mordmüller B, Ngoa UA, Atuguba F, Arthur FKN, Mensah BA, Kaddumukasa M, Bang P, Kremsner PG, Mategula D, Flach C, Milligan P, Theisen M. Extended follow-up of children in a phase2b trial of the GMZ2 malaria vaccine. Vaccine 2021; 39:4314-4319. [PMID: 34175127 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The GMZ2/alum candidate malaria vaccine had an efficacy of 14% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.6%, 23%) against clinical malaria over 6 months of follow-up in a phase2b multicentre trial in children 1-5 years of age. Here we report the extended follow up of safety and efficacy over 2 years. METHODS A total of 1849 (GMZ2 = 926, rabies = 923) children aged 12-60 months were randomized to receive intramuscularly, either 3 doses of 100 μg GMZ2/alum or 3 doses of rabies vaccine as control 28 days apart. The children were followed-up for 24 months for clinical malaria episodes and adverse events. The primary endpoint was documented fever with parasitaemia of at least 5000/μL. RESULTS There were 2,062 malaria episodes in the GMZ2/alum group and 2,115 in the rabies vaccine group in the intention-to-treat analysis, vaccine efficacy (VE) of 6.5% (95%: CI -1.6%, 14.0%). In children aged 1-2 years at enrolment, VE was 3.6% (95 %CI: -9.1%, 14.8%) in the first year and -4.1% (95 %CI: -18.7%, 87%) in the second year. In children aged 3-5 years at enrolment VE was 19.9% (95 %CI: 7.7%, 30.4%) in the first year and 6.3% (95 %CI: -10.2%, 20.3%) in the second year (interaction by year, P = 0.025, and by age group, P = 0.085). A total of 187 (GMZ2 = 91, rabies = 96) serious adverse events were recorded in 167 individuals over the entire period of the study. There were no GMZ2 vaccine related serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS GMZ2/alum was well tolerated. Follow-up over 2 years confirmed a low level of vaccine efficacy with slightly higher efficacy in older children, which suggests GMZ2 may act in concert with naturally acquired immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvester Dassah
- Navrongo Health Research Centre, Navrongo, Ghana; Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Sodiomon B Sirima
- National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Burkina Faso
| | | | - Ulysse Ateba Ngoa
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Germany; Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL), Gabon
| | | | - Fareed K N Arthur
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Benedicta A Mensah
- Department of Parasitology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | | | - Peter Bang
- Department for Vaccine Development, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter G Kremsner
- National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme, Burkina Faso; Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Donnie Mategula
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - Clare Flach
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - Paul Milligan
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - Michael Theisen
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology, and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark.
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31
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Frimpong A, Amponsah J, Adjokatseh AS, Agyemang D, Bentum-Ennin L, Ofori EA, Kyei-Baafour E, Akyea-Mensah K, Adu B, Mensah GI, Amoah LE, Kusi KA. Corrigendum: Asymptomatic Malaria Infection Is Maintained by a Balanced Pro- and Anti-inflammatory Response. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:686435. [PMID: 34093512 PMCID: PMC8170474 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.686435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Augustina Frimpong
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.,Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.,African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Accra, Ghana
| | - Jones Amponsah
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Abigail Sena Adjokatseh
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Dorothy Agyemang
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Lutterodt Bentum-Ennin
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Ebenezer Addo Ofori
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.,Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Eric Kyei-Baafour
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kwadwo Akyea-Mensah
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Gloria Ivy Mensah
- Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Linda Eva Amoah
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.,Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kwadwo Asamoah Kusi
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.,Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.,Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
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32
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Lamptey H, Bonney EY, Adu B, Kyei GB. Are Fc Gamma Receptor Polymorphisms Important in HIV-1 Infection Outcomes and Latent Reservoir Size? Front Immunol 2021; 12:656894. [PMID: 34017334 PMCID: PMC8129575 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.656894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fc gamma receptors (FcγR) are cell surface glycoproteins which trigger specific effector-cell responses when cross-linked with the Fc portions of immunoglobulin (IgG) antibodies. During HIV-1 infection, the course of disease progression, ART response, and viral reservoir size vary in different individuals. Several factors may account for these differences; however, Fc gamma receptor gene polymorphisms, which influence receptor binding to IgG antibodies, are likely to play a key role. FcγRIIa (CD32) was recently reported as a potential marker for latent HIV reservoir, however, this assertion is still inconclusive. Whether FcγR polymorphisms influence the size of the viral reservoir, remains an important question in HIV cure studies. In addition, potential cure or viral suppression methods such as broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAbs) may depend on FcγRs to control the virus. Here, we discuss the current evidence on the potential role played by FcγR polymorphisms in HIV-1 infection, treatment and vaccine trial outcomes. Importantly, we highlight contrasting findings that may be due to multiple factors and the relatively limited data from African populations. We recommend further studies especially in sub-Saharan Africa to confirm the role of FcγRIIa in the establishment of latent reservoir and to determine their influence in therapies involving bNAbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Lamptey
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Evelyn Y. Bonney
- Department of Virology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - George B. Kyei
- Department of Virology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Medical and Scientific Research Centre, University of Ghana Medical Centre, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
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33
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Kyei-Baafour E, Oppong M, Kusi KA, Frempong AF, Aculley B, Arthur FKN, Tiendrebeogo RW, Singh SK, Theisen M, Kweku M, Adu B, Hviid L, Ofori MF. Suitability of IgG responses to multiple Plasmodium falciparum antigens as markers of transmission intensity and pattern. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0249936. [PMID: 33886601 PMCID: PMC8062017 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Detection of antibody reactivity to appropriate, specific parasite antigens may constitute a sensitive and cost-effective alternative to current tools to monitor malaria transmission across different endemicity settings. This study aimed to determine the suitability of IgG responses to a number of P. falciparum antigens as markers of transmission intensity and pattern. Antibody responses to multiple malaria antigens were determined in 905 participants aged 1–12 years from three districts with low (Keta), medium (Hohoe) and high (Krachi) transmission intensity in the Volta region of Ghana. Blood film microscopy slides and dry blood spots (DBS) were obtained for parasitaemia detection and antibody measurement, respectively. Sera were eluted from DBS and levels of IgG specific for 10 malaria antigens determined by a multiplex assay. Results were compared within and among the districts. Total IgG responses to MSPDBL1, MSPDBLLeucine, MSP2-FC27, RAMA, and PfRh2a and PfRh2b were higher in Krachi than in Hohoe and Keta. Seroprevalence of IgG specific for MSPDBLLeucine, RON4, and PfRh2b were also highest in Krachi. Responses to RALP-1, PfRh2a and PfRh2b were associated with patent but asymptomatic parasitaemia in Keta, while responses to MSPDBL1, MSPDBLLeucine, MSP2-FC27, RAMA, Rh2-2030, and PfRh2b were associated with parasite carriage in Hohoe, but not in Krachi. Using ROC analysis, only PfRh2b was found to predict patent, but asymptomatic, parasitaemia in Keta and Hohoe. Antibody breadth correlated positively with age (r = 0.29, p<0.0001) and parasitaemia (β = 3.91; CI = 1.53 to 6.29), and medium to high transmission (p<0.0001). Our findings suggest differences in malaria-specific antibody responses across the three transmission zones and that PfRh2b has potential as a marker of malaria transmission intensity and pattern. This could have implications for malaria control programs and vaccine trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Kyei-Baafour
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Mavis Oppong
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana
| | - Kwadwo Asamoah Kusi
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Abena Fremaah Frempong
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Belinda Aculley
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Fareed K. N. Arthur
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Regis Wendpayangde Tiendrebeogo
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and at Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susheel K. Singh
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and at Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Theisen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and at Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Margaret Kweku
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Lars Hviid
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and at Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Fokuo Ofori
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- * E-mail:
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34
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Amoani B, Gyan B, Sakyi SA, Abu EK, Nuvor SV, Barnes P, Sarkodie-Addo T, Ahenkorah B, Sewor C, Dwomoh D, Theisen M, Cappello M, Wilson MD, Adu B. Effect of hookworm infection and anthelmintic treatment on naturally acquired antibody responses against the GMZ2 malaria vaccine candidate and constituent antigens. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:332. [PMID: 33832450 PMCID: PMC8028774 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06027-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria and helminths diseases are co-endemic in most parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Immune responses from each of these pathogens interact, and these interactions may have implications on vaccines. The GMZ2 malaria vaccine candidate is a fusion protein of Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 3 (MSP3) and glutamate rich protein (GLURP R0). GMZ2 has recently showed modest efficacy in a phase IIb multicenter trial. Here, we assessed the effect of hookworm (Necator americanus) infection and anthelmintic treatment on naturally acquired antibody responses against GMZ2 and constituent antigens. Methods This longitudinal cross-sectional study was conducted in the Kintampo North Municipality of Ghana. Blood and stool samples were taken from 158 individuals (4–88 years old) infected with either P. falciparum alone (n = 59) or both hookworm and P. falciparum (n = 63) and uninfected endemic controls (n = 36). Stool hookworm infection was detected by the Kato-Katz method and PCR. Malaria parasitaemia was detected by RDT, light microscopy and P. falciparum-specific 18S rRNA gene PCR. Serum samples were obtained prior to hookworm treatment with a single dose of albendazole (400 mg) and 3 weeks (21 days) after treatment. Levels of IgG1, IgG3 and IgM against GMZ2, MSP3 and GLURP R0 were measured by ELISA and compared among the groups, before and after treatment. Results Participants with P. falciparum and hookworm co-infection had significantly higher IgG3 levels to GMZ2 than those with only P. falciparum infection and negative control (p < 0.05) at baseline. Treatment with albendazole led to a significant reduction in IgG3 levels against both GMZ2 and GLURP R0. Similarly, IgM and IgG1 levels against MSP3 also decreased following deworming treatment. Conclusion Individuals with co-infection had higher antibody responses to GMZ2 antigen. Treatment of hookworm/malaria co-infection resulted in a reduction in antibody responses against GMZ2 and constituent antigens after albendazole treatment. Thus, hookworm infection and treatment could have a potential implication on malaria vaccine efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Amoani
- Department of Biomedical Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.,Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Ben Gyan
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Samuel Asamoah Sakyi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Emmanuel Kwasi Abu
- Department of Optometry, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Samuel Victor Nuvor
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Precious Barnes
- Department of Physician Assistant, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Tracy Sarkodie-Addo
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Benjamin Ahenkorah
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.,Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Bolgatanga Technical University, Bolgatanga, Upper East Region, Ghana
| | - Christian Sewor
- Department of Biomedical Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Duah Dwomoh
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Michael Theisen
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology, and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Cappello
- Partnerships for Global Health, Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Michael D Wilson
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
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35
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Ngoi JM, Quashie PK, Morang'a CM, Bonney JHK, Amuzu DSY, Kumordjie S, Asante IA, Bonney EY, Eshun M, Boatemaa L, Magnusen V, Kotey EN, Ndam NT, Tei-Maya F, Arjarquah AK, Obodai E, Otchere ID, Bediako Y, Mutungi JK, Amenga-Etego LN, Odoom JK, Anang AK, Kyei GB, Adu B, Ampofo WK, Awandare GA. Genomic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 reveals local viral evolution in Ghana. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2021; 246:960-970. [PMID: 33325750 PMCID: PMC7746953 DOI: 10.1177/1535370220975351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The confirmed case fatality rate for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Ghana has dropped from a peak of 2% in March to be consistently below 1% since May 2020. Globally, case fatality rates have been linked to the strains/clades of circulating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) within a specific country. Here we present 46 whole genomes of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in Ghana, from two separate sequencing batches: 15 isolates from the early epidemic (March 12-April 1 2020) and 31 from later time-points ( 25-27 May 2020). Sequencing was carried out on an Illumina MiSeq system following an amplicon-based enrichment for SARS-CoV-2 cDNA. After genome assembly and quality control processes, phylogenetic analysis showed that the first batch of 15 genomes clustered into five clades: 19A, 19B, 20A, 20B, and 20C, whereas the second batch of 31 genomes clustered to only three clades 19B, 20A, and 20B. The imported cases (6/46) mapped to circulating viruses in their countries of origin, namely, India, Hungary, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. All genomes mapped to the original Wuhan strain with high similarity (99.5-99.8%). All imported strains mapped to the European superclade A, whereas 5/9 locally infected individuals harbored the B4 clade, from the East Asian superclade B. Ghana appears to have 19B and 20B as the two largest circulating clades based on our sequence analyses. In line with global reports, the D614G linked viruses seem to be predominating. Comparison of Ghanaian SARS-CoV-2 genomes with global genomes indicates that Ghanaian strains have not diverged significantly from circulating strains commonly imported into Africa. The low level of diversity in our genomes may indicate lower levels of transmission, even for D614G viruses, which is consistent with the relatively low levels of infection reported in Ghana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce M Ngoi
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
| | - Peter K Quashie
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Collins M Morang'a
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
| | - Joseph HK Bonney
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
| | - Dominic SY Amuzu
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
| | - Selassie Kumordjie
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
| | - Ivy A Asante
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
| | - Evelyn Y Bonney
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
| | - Miriam Eshun
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
| | - Linda Boatemaa
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
| | - Vanessa Magnusen
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
| | - Erasmus N Kotey
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
| | - Nicaise T Ndam
- Mère et Enfant en Milieu Tropical, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Université de Paris, Paris F-75006, France
| | - Frederick Tei-Maya
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
| | - Augustina K Arjarquah
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
| | - Evangeline Obodai
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
| | - Isaac D Otchere
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
| | - Yaw Bediako
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Joe K Mutungi
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
| | - Lucas N Amenga-Etego
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
| | - John K Odoom
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
| | - Abraham K Anang
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
| | - George B Kyei
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
- University of Ghana Medical Centre, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
| | - William K Ampofo
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
| | - Gordon A Awandare
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, GH 0233, Ghana
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36
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Lambrecht NJ, Wilson ML, Baylin A, Folson G, Naabah S, Eisenberg JNS, Adu B, Jones AD. Associations between livestock ownership and lower odds of anaemia among children 6-59 months old are not mediated by animal-source food consumption in Ghana. Matern Child Nutr 2021; 17:e13163. [PMID: 33645904 PMCID: PMC8189243 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Livestock ownership may mitigate anaemia among young children by providing access to animal-source foods (ASFs) yet exacerbate anaemia by exposing children to animal-source pathogens. This study aimed to assess the association between household livestock ownership and child anaemia and examine whether this relationship is mediated by child ASF consumption or by child morbidity and inflammation. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 470 children aged 6-59 months in Greater Accra, Ghana. Child blood samples were analysed for haemoglobin concentration, iron status biomarkers and inflammatory biomarkers. Caregivers were asked about the child's frequency of ASF consumption in the past 3 months. Livestock ownership was categorized into five typologies to distinguish households by the number and combinations of species owned. In adjusted logistic regression, children from households in Type 5, owning cattle, small livestock (goats, sheep or pigs) and poultry, had lower odds of anaemia compared with those in Type 1, owning no livestock (OR [95% CI]: 0.32 [0.14, 0.71]). Although children from households that owned poultry were more likely to consume chicken meat, and children from households with cattle were more likely to drink cow's milk, consumption of these ASFs did not mediate the observed association between livestock ownership and child anaemia. There were no associations between livestock ownership and children's symptoms of illness or inflammation. Further research is needed to understand how ownership of certain livestock species, or a greater diversity of livestock species, may be associated with the risk of child anaemia, including the role of dietary and income-based pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie J Lambrecht
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Mark L Wilson
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Ana Baylin
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Gloria Folson
- Department of Nutrition, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Joseph N S Eisenberg
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Andrew D Jones
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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37
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Tchum SK, Arthur FK, Adu B, Sakyi SA, Abubakar LA, Atibilla D, Amenga-Etego S, Oppong FB, Dzabeng F, Amoani B, Gyan T, Arhin E, Poku-Asante K. Impact of iron fortification on anaemia and iron deficiency among pre-school children living in Rural Ghana. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0246362. [PMID: 33571267 PMCID: PMC7877575 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Anaemia in young sub-Saharan African children may be due to the double burden of malaria and iron deficiency. Primary analysis of a double-blind, cluster randomized trial of iron containing micronutrient powder supplementation in Ghanaian children aged 6 to 35 months found no difference in malaria risk between intervention and placebo groups. Here, we performed a secondary analysis of the trial data to assess the impact of long-term prophylactic iron fortificant on the risk of iron deficiency and anaemia in trial subjects. This population-based randomized-cluster trial involved 1958 children aged between 6 to 35 months, identified at home and able to eat semi-solid foods. The intervention group (n = 967) received a daily dose containing 12.5 mg elemental iron (as ferrous fumarate), vitamin A (400 μg), ascorbic acid (30 mg) and zinc (5 mg). The placebo group (n = 991) received a similar micronutrient powder but without iron. Micronutrient powder was provided daily to both groups for 5 months. At baseline and endline, health assessment questionnaires were administered and blood samples collected for analysis. The two groups had similar baseline anthropometry, anaemia, iron status, demographic characteristics, and dietary intakes (p > 0.05). Of the 1904 (97.2%) children who remained at the end of the intervention, the intervention group had significantly higher haemoglobin (p = 0.0001) and serum ferritin (p = 0.0002) levels than the placebo group. Soluble transferrin receptor levels were more saturated among children from the iron group compared to non-iron group (p = 0.012). Anaemia status in the iron group improved compared to the placebo group (p = 0.03). Continued long-term routine use of micronutrient powder containing prophylactic iron reduced anaemia, iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia among pre-school children living in rural Ghana's malaria endemic area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Kofi Tchum
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, College of Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo-North, Ghana
- * E-mail:
| | - Fareed Kow Arthur
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, College of Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, College of Health Sciences, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Samuel Asamoah Sakyi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Dorcas Atibilla
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo-North, Ghana
| | - Seeba Amenga-Etego
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo-North, Ghana
| | - Felix Boakye Oppong
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo-North, Ghana
| | - Francis Dzabeng
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo-North, Ghana
| | - Benjamin Amoani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Thomas Gyan
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo-North, Ghana
| | - Emmanuel Arhin
- Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Department of Earth Science, C K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, Ghana
| | - Kwaku Poku-Asante
- Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo-North, Ghana
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Dwomoh D, Iddi S, Adu B, Aheto JM, Sedzro KM, Fobil J, Bosomprah S. Mathematical modeling of COVID-19 infection dynamics in Ghana: Impact evaluation of integrated government and individual level interventions. Infect Dis Model 2021; 6:381-397. [PMID: 33521403 PMCID: PMC7826007 DOI: 10.1016/j.idm.2021.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The raging COVID-19 pandemic is arguably the most important threat to global health presently. Although there Although there is currently a a a vaccine, preventive measures have been proposed to reduce the spread of infection but the efficacy of these interventions, and their likely impact on the number of COVID-19 infections is unknown. In this study, we proposed the SEIQHRS model (susceptible-exposed-infectious-quarantine-hospitalized-recovered-susceptible) model that predicts the trajectory of the epidemic to help plan an effective control strategy for COVID-19 in Ghana. We provided a short-term forecast of the early phase of the epidemic trajectory in Ghana using the generalized growth model. We estimated the effective basic Reproductive number Re in real-time using three different estimation procedures and simulated worse case epidemic scenarios and the impact of integrated individual and government interventions on the epidemic in the long term using compartmental models. The maximum likelihood estimates of Re and the corresponding 95% confidence interval was 2.04 [95% CI: 1.82-2.27; 12th March-7th April 2020]. The Re estimate using the exponential growth method was 2.11 [95% CI: 2.00-2.24] within the same period. The Re estimate using time-dependent (TD) method showed a gradual decline of the Effective Reproductive Number since March 12, 2020 when the first 2 index cases were recorded but the rate of transmission remains high (TD: Re = 2.52; 95% CI: [1.87-3.49]). The current estimate of Re based on the TD method is 1.74 [95% CI: 1.41-2.10; (13th May 2020)] but with comprehensive integrated government and individual level interventions, the Re could reduce to 0.5 which is an indication of the epidemic dying out in the general population. Our results showed that enhanced government and individual-level interventions and the intensity of media coverage could have a substantial effect on suppressing transmission of new COVID-19 cases and reduced death rates in Ghana until such a time that a potent vaccine or drug is discovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duah Dwomoh
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana
| | - Samuel Iddi
- Department of Statistics, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Department of Immunology, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Greater Accra, Ghana
| | - Justice Moses Aheto
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana
| | - Kojo Mensah Sedzro
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Department of Immunology, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Greater Accra, Ghana
| | - Julius Fobil
- Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana
| | - Samuel Bosomprah
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana
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Frimpong A, Amponsah J, Adjokatseh AS, Agyemang D, Bentum-Ennin L, Ofori EA, Kyei-Baafour E, Akyea-Mensah K, Adu B, Mensah GI, Amoah LE, Kusi KA. Asymptomatic Malaria Infection Is Maintained by a Balanced Pro- and Anti-inflammatory Response. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:559255. [PMID: 33281757 PMCID: PMC7705202 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.559255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines are important mediators of immunity and are associated with malaria disease outcomes. However, their role in the establishment of asymptomatic infections, which may precede the development of clinical symptoms, is not as well-understood. Methods We determined the association of pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines and other immune effector molecules with the development of asymptomatic malaria. We measured and compared the plasma levels of pro-inflammatory mediators including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-12p70, IL-17A, and granzyme B, the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4 and the regulatory cytokine IL-10 from children with asymptomatic malaria infections (either microscopic or submicroscopic) and uninfected controls using Luminex. Results We show that individuals with microscopic asymptomatic malaria had significantly increased levels of TNF-α and IL-6 compared to uninfected controls. Children with either microscopic or submicroscopic asymptomatic malaria exhibited higher levels of IFN-γ, IL-17A, and IL-4 compared to uninfected controls. The levels of most of the pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines were comparable between children with microscopic and submicroscopic infections. The ratio of IFN-γ/IL-10, TNF-α/IL-10, IL-6/IL-10 as well as IFN-γ/IL-4 and IL-6/IL-4 did not differ significantly between the groups. Additionally, using a principal component analysis, the cytokines measured could not distinguish amongst the three study populations. This may imply that neither microscopic nor submicroscopic asymptomatic infections were polarized toward a pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory response. Conclusion The data show that asymptomatic malaria infections result in increased plasma levels of both pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines relative to uninfected persons. The balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines are, however, largely maintained and this may in part, explain the lack of clinical symptoms. This is consistent with the generally accepted observation that clinical symptoms develop as a result of immunopathology involving dysregulation of inflammatory mediator balance in favor of pro-inflammatory mediators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Augustina Frimpong
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.,Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.,African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Accra, Ghana
| | - Jones Amponsah
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Abigail Sena Adjokatseh
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Dorothy Agyemang
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Lutterodt Bentum-Ennin
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Ebenezer Addo Ofori
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.,Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Eric Kyei-Baafour
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kwadwo Akyea-Mensah
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Gloria Ivy Mensah
- Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Linda Eva Amoah
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.,Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kwadwo Asamoah Kusi
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.,Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.,Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
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40
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Dwomoh D, Adu B, Dodoo D, Theisen M, Iddi S, Gerds TA. Evaluating the predictive performance of malaria antibodies and FCGR3B gene polymorphisms on Plasmodium falciparum infection outcome: a prospective cohort study. Malar J 2020; 19:307. [PMID: 32854708 PMCID: PMC7450914 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-020-03381-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria antigen-specific antibodies and polymorphisms in host receptors involved in antibody functionality have been associated with different outcomes of Plasmodium falciparum infections. Thus, to identify key prospective malaria antigens for vaccine development, there is the need to evaluate the associations between malaria antibodies and antibody dependent host factors with more rigorous statistical methods. In this study, different statistical models were used to evaluate the predictive performance of malaria-specific antibodies and host gene polymorphisms on P. falciparum infection in a longitudinal cohort study involving Ghanaian children. Methods Models with different functional forms were built using known predictors (age, sickle cell status, blood group status, parasite density, and mosquito bed net use) and malaria antigen-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgG subclasses and FCGR3B polymorphisms shown to mediate antibody-dependent cellular functions. Malaria antigens studied were Merozoite surface proteins (MSP-1 and MSP-3), Glutamate Rich Protein (GLURP)-R0, R2, and the Apical Membrane Antigen (AMA-1). The models were evaluated through visualization and assessment of differences between the Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve and Brier Score estimated by suitable internal cross-validation designs. Results This study found that the FCGR3B-c.233C>A genotype and IgG against AMA1 were relatively better compared to the other antibodies and FCGR3B genotypes studied in classifying or predicting malaria risk among children. Conclusions The data supports the P. falciparum, AMA1 as an important malaria vaccine antigen, while FCGR3B-c.233C>A under the additive and dominant models of inheritance could be an important modifier of the effect of malaria protective antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duah Dwomoh
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Daniel Dodoo
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Michael Theisen
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Samuel Iddi
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Thomas A Gerds
- Section of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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41
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Ravens S, Fichtner AS, Willers M, Torkornoo D, Pirr S, Schöning J, Deseke M, Sandrock I, Bubke A, Wilharm A, Dodoo D, Egyir B, Flanagan KL, Steinbrück L, Dickinson P, Ghazal P, Adu B, Viemann D, Prinz I. Microbial exposure drives polyclonal expansion of innate γδ T cells immediately after birth. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:18649-18660. [PMID: 32690687 PMCID: PMC7414158 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1922588117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Starting at birth, the immune system of newborns and children encounters and is influenced by environmental challenges. It is still not completely understood how γδ T cells emerge and adapt during early life. Studying the composition of T cell receptors (TCRs) using next-generation sequencing (NGS) in neonates, infants, and children can provide valuable insights into the adaptation of T cell subsets. To investigate how neonatal γδ T cell repertoires are shaped by microbial exposure after birth, we monitored the γ-chain (TRG) and δ-chain (TRD) repertoires of peripheral blood T cells in newborns, infants, and young children from Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. We identified a set of TRG and TRD sequences that were shared by all children from Europe and Africa. These were primarily public clones, characterized by simple rearrangements of Vγ9 and Vδ2 chains with low junctional diversity and usage of non-TRDJ1 gene segments, reminiscent of early ontogenetic subsets of γδ T cells. Further profiling revealed that these innate, public Vγ9Vδ2+ T cells underwent an immediate TCR-driven polyclonal proliferation within the first 4 wk of life. In contrast, γδ T cells using Vδ1+ and Vδ3+TRD rearrangements did not significantly expand after birth. However, different environmental cues may lead to the observed increase of Vδ1+ and Vδ3+TRD sequences in the majority of African children. In summary, we show how dynamic γδ TCR repertoires develop directly after birth and present important differences among γδ T cell subsets.
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MESH Headings
- Africa South of the Sahara
- Bacteria/immunology
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Europe
- Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte/genetics
- Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Humans
- Infant
- Infant, Newborn
- Longitudinal Studies
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta/immunology
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarina Ravens
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany;
- Cluster of Excellence RESIST - Resolving Infection Susceptibility (EXC 2155), Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Alina S Fichtner
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Maike Willers
- Department of Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Dennis Torkornoo
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Sabine Pirr
- Department of Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Jennifer Schöning
- Department of Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Malte Deseke
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Inga Sandrock
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Anja Bubke
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Anneke Wilharm
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Beverly Egyir
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Katie L Flanagan
- Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research Council Unit, Fajara, The Gambia
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Launceston, TAS 7250, Australia
- School of Health & Biomedical Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
| | - Lars Steinbrück
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Paul Dickinson
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, United Kingdom
- Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Ghazal
- Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, United Kingdom
| | - Bright Adu
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Dorothee Viemann
- Department of Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence RESIST - Resolving Infection Susceptibility (EXC 2155), Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- PRIMAL (priming immunity at the beginning of life) Consortium, Germany
| | - Immo Prinz
- Institute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence RESIST - Resolving Infection Susceptibility (EXC 2155), Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
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Lambrecht N, Bridges D, Adu B, Wilson M, Eisenberg J, Folson G, Baylin A, Jones A. Enteric Pathogenic Infection in Young Ghanaian Children and Associations with Iron-Deficiency and Anemia. Curr Dev Nutr 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzaa053_061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Objectives
We aimed to determine the burden of Campylobacter infection among children in Greater Accra, Ghana and assess whether infection is associated with iron-deficiency and anemia.
Methods
Blood and stool samples were collected from a random sample of 259 children aged 6 to 59 months residing in two districts in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana. Blood samples were analyzed for hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, the iron status biomarkers serum ferritin (SF) and serum transferrin receptor (sTfR), and the inflammatory biomarkers C-reactive protein (CRP) and α-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP). Anemia was defined as Hb < 11.0 g/dL and iron-deficiency as SF < 12 µg/L or sTfR > 8.3 mg/L. We used quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to analyze bacterial DNA from stool samples for Campylobacter species. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess child- and household-level predictors of infection.
Results
Overall, 16.2% of children were positive for Campylobacter infection, with the highest infection prevalence among children under two years old. Children positive for Campylobacter infection had 3.4 times higher odds of elevated CRP levels (95% CI: 1.66, 7.05) and 3.0 times higher odds of elevated AGP levels (95% CI: 1.61, 5.76), after adjusting for child age and sex, vitamin A deficiency, malaria, and household sanitation and wealth. Campylobacter infection was associated with 2.5 times higher odds of low SF (95% CI: 1.20, 5.12) and marginally higher odds of elevated sTfR (OR: 2.10, 95% CI: 0.96, 4.58), but was not significantly associated with higher odds of anemia (OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 0.69, 1.93). Ownership of small livestock, including goats, sheep, and pigs, but no other livestock, was associated with Campylobacter infection.
Conclusions
Our results suggest that Campylobacter infection contributes to the inflammatory burden among young children in Ghana and that infection may also negatively affect iron status. Furthermore, livestock may contribute to infectious pathogen exposure.
Funding Sources
University of Michigan (U-M) International Institute, U-M Office of Global Public Health, U-M African Studies Center, U-M Rackham Graduate School, U-M Nutritional Sciences Department, the Dow Chemical Company Foundation through the Dow Sustainability Fellows Program at the University of Michigan.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Bright Adu
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research
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43
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Kana IH, Singh SK, Garcia-Senosiain A, Dodoo D, Singh S, Adu B, Theisen M. Breadth of Functional Antibodies Is Associated With Plasmodium falciparum Merozoite Phagocytosis and Protection Against Febrile Malaria. J Infect Dis 2020; 220:275-284. [PMID: 30820557 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The specific targets of functional antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum merozoites remain largely unexplored and, more importantly, their relevance to naturally acquired immunity in longitudinal cohort studies (LCSs) is yet to be tested. METHODS Functionality of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against 24 merozoite antigens was determined at the baseline of an LCS in Ghana using a bead-based opsonic phagocytosis assay (BPA). Antigen-specific IgG3 subclass antibodies were quantified in the same samples by the Luminex multiplex system. RESULTS A wide range of BPA activity was observed across the different antigens. High BPA responses of nMSP3K1, GLURP-R2, MSP23D7, MSP119k, and PfRh2-2030 coupled beads were significantly associated with a higher probability of children not experiencing febrile malaria. Children with high breadth of functional antibodies against these antigens together with cMSP33D7 had a significantly reduced risk of febrile malaria (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.36 [95% confidence interval, .18-.72]; P = .004). Five of the 6 BPA activities significantly (likelihood ratio rest, P ≤ .05) contributed to the protective immunity observed with the IgG3 antibodies. CONCLUSIONS The development of BPA allowed profiling of functional antibodies in an LCS. Identification of targets of opsonic phagocytosis may have implications in the development of a subunit malaria vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikhlaq Hussain Kana
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susheel Kumar Singh
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Asier Garcia-Senosiain
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daniel Dodoo
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon
| | | | - Bright Adu
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon
| | - Michael Theisen
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
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44
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Singh SK, Plieskatt J, Chourasia BK, Singh V, Bolscher JM, Dechering KJ, Adu B, López-Méndez B, Kaviraj S, Locke E, King CR, Theisen M. The Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein produced in Lactococcus lactis is pure and stable. J Biol Chem 2019; 295:403-414. [PMID: 31792057 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.011268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 11/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) is a sporozoite surface protein whose role in sporozoite motility and cell invasion has made it the leading candidate for a pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccine. However, production of high yields of soluble recombinant PfCSP, including its extensive NANP and NVDP repeats, has proven problematic. Here, we report on the development and characterization of a secreted, soluble, and stable full-length PfCSP (containing 4 NVDP and 38 NANP repeats) produced in the Lactococcus lactis expression system. The recombinant full-length PfCSP, denoted PfCSP4/38, was produced initially with a histidine tag and purified by a simple two-step procedure. Importantly, the recombinant PfCSP4/38 retained a conformational epitope for antibodies as confirmed by both in vivo and in vitro characterizations. We characterized this complex protein by HPLC, light scattering, MS analysis, differential scanning fluorimetry, CD, SDS-PAGE, and immunoblotting with conformation-dependent and -independent mAbs, which confirmed it to be both pure and soluble. Moreover, we found that the recombinant protein is stable at both frozen and elevated-temperature storage conditions. When we used L. lactis-derived PfCSP4/38 to immunize mice, it elicited high levels of functional antibodies that had the capacity to modify sporozoite motility in vitro We concluded that the reported yield, purity, results of biophysical analyses, and stability of PfCSP4/38 warrant further consideration of using the L. lactis system for the production of circumsporozoite proteins for preclinical and clinical applications in malaria vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susheel K Singh
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark; Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Bishwanath Kumar Chourasia
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark; Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vandana Singh
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark; Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Bright Adu
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Blanca López-Méndez
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Emily Locke
- PATH's Malaria Vaccine Initiative, Washington, D. C. 20001
| | - C Richter King
- PATH's Malaria Vaccine Initiative, Washington, D. C. 20001
| | - Michael Theisen
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark; Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Amoani B, Adu B, Frempong MT, Sarkodie-Addo T, Victor Nuvor S, Abu EK, Harrison LM, Cappello M, Gyan B, Wilson MD. Cytokine profiles of Necator americanus and Plasmodium falciparum co-infected patients in rural Ghana. Cytokine X 2019; 1:100014. [PMID: 33604551 PMCID: PMC7885886 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytox.2019.100014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Co-infection of hookworm with P. falciparum modulates blood parasitemia levels. Cytokine levels were higher in the parasite infected individuals. Serum eotaxin level correlate negatively with hookworm intensity. Deworming drug treatment alters cytokine profiles in hookworm infected subjects.
Background Necator americanus (hookworm) and Plasmodium falciparum co-infections are common in endemic communities in rural Ghana. Human immune responses to P. falciparum and hookworm are complex, and the dynamics of cytokine levels and effector mediators are poorly understood. This study aimed to determine the effect of hookworm and P. falciparum co-infection on parasite intensities and cytokine profiles in individuals before and after deworming drug treatment. Methods In this cross-sectional study conducted in the Kintampo North Municipality of Ghana blood and stool samples were analyzed from 984 participants (aged 4–88 years). Stool samples were collected at baseline from all participants and examined for the presence of hookworm using the Kato-Katz method. Blood and stool samples were analysed again two weeks after albendazole treatment of hookworm infected individuals. Malaria parasitaemia was estimated by light microscopy and P. falciparum-specific 18S rRNA gene PCR method used for species identification. Serum levels of circulating cytokines interleukins -5, -10 (IL-5, IL-10), tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, and eotaxin [CCL11] were determined using ELISA based methods. Results Malaria parasitaemia was significantly reduced in hookworm and P. falciparum co-infected individuals (p = 0.0018) while hookworm intensity was similar between groups. IL-10 level was significantly higher in the co-infected individuals (39.9 ± 12.2 pg/ml) compared to the single infected or the uninfected group (10.7 ± 7.6 mg/ml). IL-5 level was higher in the hookworm only infected individual. TNF-α levels were higher in all infected groups compared to the uninfected controls. CCL11 levels were significantly higher in subjects infected with hookworm only or co-infected with hookworm and P. falciparum. There was a significantly negative correlation (rs = −0.39, p = 0.021) between hookworm eggs per gram of stool and CCL11 levels in the group mono-infected with hookworm which was not affected by treatment. Treatment with albendazole led to a significant reduction of TNF-α (p = 0.041), IL-5 (p = 0.01) and IL-10 (p = 0.001) levels. Conclusion This study shows that in the absence of other helminths, co-infection of hookworm with P. falciparum may modulate blood parasitemia levels and cytokine responses. Data also show that deworming drug treatment alters these cytokine profiles in hookworm infected subjects. Future studies to elucidate the potential mechanisms underlying these observations should include an assessment of parasite specific cellular responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Amoani
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.,Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.,Molecular Medicine Department, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Margaret T Frempong
- Molecular Medicine Department, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
| | - Tracy Sarkodie-Addo
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Samuel Victor Nuvor
- Department of Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Emmanuel Kwasi Abu
- Department of Optometry, College of Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Lisa M Harrison
- Partnerships for Global Health, Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Michael Cappello
- Partnerships for Global Health, Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ben Gyan
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Michael D Wilson
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
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Kana IH, Garcia-Senosiain A, Singh SK, Tiendrebeogo RW, Chourasia BK, Malhotra P, Sharma SK, Das MK, Singh S, Adu B, Theisen M. Cytophilic Antibodies Against Key Plasmodium falciparum Blood Stage Antigens Contribute to Protection Against Clinical Malaria in a High Transmission Region of Eastern India. J Infect Dis 2019; 218:956-965. [PMID: 29733355 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiy258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The collection of clinical data from a tribal population in a malaria-endemic area of India suggests the occurrence of naturally acquired immunity (NAI) against Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Methods Quantity and functionality of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against intact merozoites and recombinant proteins were assessed in a 13-month longitudinal cohort study of 121 individuals, 3-60 years of age. Results Opsonic phagocytosis of merozoites activity was strongly associated (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.34; 95% confidence interval [CI] = .18-.66; P = .0013) with protection against febrile malaria. Of the different IgG subclasses, only IgG3 antibodies against intact whole merozoites was significantly associated with protection against febrile malaria (HR = 0.47; 95% CI = .26-.86; P = .01). Furthermore, a combination of IgG3 antibody responses against Pf12, MSP3.7, MSP3.3, and MSP2FC27 was strongly associated with protection against febrile malaria (HR = 0.15; 95% CI, .06-.37; P = .0001). Conclusions These data suggest that NAI may, at least in part, be explained by opsonic phagocytosis of merozoites and IgG3 responses against whole merozoites, and in particular to a combination of 4 antigens is critical in this population. These results may have implications in the development of a subunit malaria vaccine. Opsonic phagocytosis of Plasmodium falciparum merozoites was associated with protection against clinical malaria in an India population. Antibody profiling identified four merozoite antigens (Pf12, MSP3.7, MSP3.3, and MSP2) as targets of protective Immunoglobuline G3 antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikhlaq Hussain Kana
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
| | - Asier Garcia-Senosiain
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
| | - Susheel K Singh
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
| | - Régis Wendpayangde Tiendrebeogo
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
| | - Bishwanath Kumar Chourasia
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
| | - Pawan Malhotra
- Malaria Biology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Surya K Sharma
- National Institute of Malaria Research, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Manoj K Das
- National Institute of Malaria Research, Field Unit, Ranchi (Jharkhand), India
| | - Subhash Singh
- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Canal Road, Jammu, India
| | - Bright Adu
- Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon
| | - Michael Theisen
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
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Amoani B, Adu B, Frempong MT, Sarkodie-Addo T, Nuvor SV, Wilson MD, Gyan B. Levels of serum eosinophil cationic protein are associated with hookworm infection and intensity in endemic communities in Ghana. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222382. [PMID: 31513658 PMCID: PMC6742367 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is a cytotoxic protein mainly secreted by eosinophils granulocytes and plays a role in host defense against parasitic infections. Infection with Necator americanus (hookworm) is traditionally diagnosed by the Kato-Katz method which is inherently tedious, subjective and known to underestimate infection intensity. This study aimed to assess levels of serum ECP in relation to hookworm infection intensity. METHODS Stool samples from 984 (aged 4 to 80 years) participants in a cross-sectional study conducted in the Kintampo North Municipality of Ghana were examined using the Kato-Katz and formol-ether concentration methods. Serum ECP levels were measured by ECP assay kit and compared between 40 individuals infected with hookworm only, 63 with hookworm- Plasmodium falciparum co-infection, 59 with P. falciparum infection and 36 with no infection. RESULTS Hookworm infection prevalence was 18.1% (178/984). ECP levels were significantly higher in individuals infected with hookworm only (β = 2.96, 95%CI = 2.69, 3.23, p<0.001) or co-infected with P. falciparum (β = 3.15, 95%CI = 2.91, 3.39, p<0.001) compared to the negative control. Levels of ECP were similar between those with only P. falciparum infection and the uninfected control (p>0.05). Increased hookworm intensity was associated with a significant increase in ECP level (β = 4.45, 95%CI = 2.25, 9.11, rs = 0.193, n = 103, p<0.01). ECP threshold of 84.98ng/ml was associated with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 98% (95% CI = 92, 100), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 76% (95% CI = 62, 87) in classifying hookworm infection status with an AUROC of 96.3%. CONCLUSION Serum ECP level may be a good biomarker of hookworm infection and intensity and warrant further investigations to help improve current hookworm diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Amoani
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
- Molecular Medicine Department, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Margaret T. Frempong
- Molecular Medicine Department, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
| | - Tracy Sarkodie-Addo
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Samuel Victor Nuvor
- Department of Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Michael D. Wilson
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Ben Gyan
- Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
- * E-mail:
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Lamptey H, Ofori MF, Adu B, Kusi KA, Dickson EK, Quakyi I, Alifrangis M. Association between alpha-thalassaemia trait, Plasmodium falciparum asexual parasites and gametocyte carriage in a malaria endemic area in Southern Ghana. BMC Res Notes 2019; 12:134. [PMID: 30867026 PMCID: PMC6417235 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-019-4181-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The alpha-thalassaemia trait has been associated with protection against severe malaria but its role in Plasmodium falciparum asexual parasite and gametocyte carriage remains unclear. This study examined association between prevalence of α-thalassaemia and P. falciparum asexual stage parasitaemia and gametocytaemia in children, pregnant women and adults, which was part of a bigger study that investigated some key factors that influence gametocyte carriage. Results Overall prevalence of heterozygous α-thalassaemia trait among all the groups was 39.0%, while 8.2% were homozygous alpha thalassaemia. Asexual parasite prevalence was significantly higher in children (P = 0.008) compared to adults and pregnant women. Of the asexual P. falciparum positive individuals, gametocyte prevalence was 38.5% (15/39) in children, 29.7% (11/37) in pregnant women and 17.4% (4/23) in adults. Heterozygous α-thalassaemic children were less likely to harbour asexual parasites, compared with normal and those deficient (OR = 0.52; 95% CI 0.28–0.97; P = 0.037) under the dominant model. These heterozygous children were also associated with reduced risk of parasitaemia compared to heterozygous adults and pregnant women. Children with heterozygous α-thalassaemia trait had reduced risk of asexual parasite carriage. There was however, no association between α-thalassaemia trait and risk of gametocyte carriage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Lamptey
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
| | - Michael Fokuo Ofori
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Kwadwo Asamoah Kusi
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Emmanuel Kakra Dickson
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Isabella Quakyi
- Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Michael Alifrangis
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Infectious Disease, National University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
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Lamptey H, Ofori MF, Kusi KA, Adu B, Owusu-Yeboa E, Kyei-Baafour E, Arku AT, Bosomprah S, Alifrangis M, Quakyi IA. The prevalence of submicroscopic Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte carriage and multiplicity of infection in children, pregnant women and adults in a low malaria transmission area in Southern Ghana. Malar J 2018; 17:331. [PMID: 30223841 PMCID: PMC6142636 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-018-2479-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The gametocyte stage of Plasmodium falciparum is considered an important target for disrupting malaria transmission. Indications are that various demographic groups, such as children and pregnant women may differ in risk of harbouring gametocytes, which may be crucial for targeted control. In this study, the relationship between the prevalence and multiplicity of P. falciparum, asexual parasite infections and gametocytaemia was assessed in three different demographic groups in an area of southern Ghana with low malaria endemicity. Levels of antibody responses to Pfs230 were also assessed as a proxy for the presence of gametocytes. METHODS The study involved multiple cross-sectional sampling of children (N = 184, aged 2-15 years), male and non-pregnant female adults (N = 154, aged 16-65 years) and pregnant women (N = 125, aged 18-45 years) from Asutsuare in the Shai Osudoku District of Greater Accra Region in Ghana. Asexual parasitaemia was detected by microscopy and PCR, and gametocytaemia was assessed by Pfs25-real time PCR. Multiclonal P. falciparum infections were estimated by msp2 genotyping and an indirect ELISA was used to measure plasma IgG antibodies to Pfs230 antigen. RESULTS Overall, children and pregnant women had higher prevalence of submicroscopic gametocytes (39.5% and 29.7%, respectively) compared to adults (17.4%). Multiplicity of infection observed amongst children (3.1) and pregnant women (3.9) were found to be significantly higher (P = 0.006) compared with adults (2.7). Risk of gametocyte carriage was higher in individuals infected with P. falciparum having both Pfmsp2 3D7 and FC27 parasite types (OR = 5.92, 95% CI 1.56-22.54, P = 0.009) compared with those infected with only 3D7 or FC27 parasite types. In agreement with the parasite prevalence data, anti-Pfs230 antibody levels were lower in gametocyte positive adults (β = - 0.57, 95% CI - 0.81, - 0.34, P < 0.001) compared to children. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that children and pregnant women are particularly important as P. falciparum submicroscopic gametocyte reservoirs and represent important focus groups for control interventions. The number of clones increased in individuals carrying gametocytes compared to those who did not carry gametocytes. The higher anti-gametocyte antibody levels in children suggests recent exposure and may be a marker of gametocyte carriage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Lamptey
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
| | - Michael Fokuo Ofori
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Kwadwo Asamoah Kusi
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Bright Adu
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Eunice Owusu-Yeboa
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Eric Kyei-Baafour
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Andrea Twumwaa Arku
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Samuel Bosomprah
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Michael Alifrangis
- Centre for Medical Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Disease, National University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Isabella A Quakyi
- Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
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Nlinwe ON, Kusi KA, Adu B, Sedegah M. T-cell responses against Malaria: Effect of parasite antigen diversity and relevance for vaccine development. Vaccine 2018; 36:2237-2242. [PMID: 29573877 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Revised: 01/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The on-going agenda for global malaria elimination will require the development of additional disease control and prevention measures since currently available tools are showing signs of inadequacy. Malaria vaccines are seen as one such important addition to the control arsenal since vaccines have proven to be highly effective public health tools against important human diseases. Both cell-mediated and antibody responses are generally believed to be important for malaria parasite control, although the exact targets of T and B cell responses against malaria have not been clearly defined. However, our current understanding of the immune response to malaria suggests that T cell responses against multiple antigenic targets may potentially be key for the development of a highly efficacious malaria vaccine. This review takes a comprehensive look at the available literature on T cell-mediated immunity against all human stages of the malaria parasite and the effect of antigen diversity on these responses. The implications of these interrelationships for the development of an effective vaccine for malaria are also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omarine Nfor Nlinwe
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
| | - Kwadwo Asamoah Kusi
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
| | - Bright Adu
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 581, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
| | - Martha Sedegah
- Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 209 l0-7500, USA.
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