Antimicrobial Resistance Levels of Non-Tuberculous Bacteria Isolates from Sputum of TB Patients in Ghana.

Background: Patients with tuberculosis (TB) often harbor diverse bacteria in their sputum, including both commensal and opportunistic pathogens. This study aimed to characterize the sputum microbiota of TB patients before and after the intensive phase of anti-TB treatment and assess changes in bacterial diversity and antibiotic resistance profiles.

Methods: A total of 162 patients with TB (128 males, 34 females; age range 18-82 years) provided sputum samples at baseline, of which 72 provided follow-up sputum after two months of intensive phase treatment.

Opinion review of drug resistant tuberculosis in West Africa: tackling the challenges for effective control.

Drug-resistant (DR) tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health concern globally, complicating TB control and management efforts. West Africa has historically faced difficulty in combating DR-TB due to limited diagnostic skills, insufficient access to excellent healthcare, and ineffective healthcare systems. This has aided in the emergence and dissemination of DR complex (MTBC) strains in the region.

Macrophage susceptibility to infection by Ghanaian complex lineages 4 and 5 varies with self-reported ethnicity.

Background: The epidemiology of complex (MTBC) lineage 5 (L5) infections in Ghana revealed a significantly increased prevalence in Ewes compared to other self-reported ethnic groups. In that context, we sought to investigate the early phase of tuberculosis (TB) infection using infection of macrophages derived from the blood of Ewe and Akan ethnic group volunteers with MTBC L4 and L5 strains.

Methods: The study participants consisted of 16 controls, among which self-reported Akan and Ewe ethnicity was equally represented, as well as 20 cured TB cases consisting of 11 Akans and 9 Ewes.

SARS-CoV-2 Molecular Evolutionary Dynamics in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana.

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.

Analysis of drug resistance among difficult-to-treat tuberculosis patients in Ghana identifies several pre-XDR TB cases.

Background: Resistance to tuberculosis (TB) drugs has become a major threat to global control efforts. Early case detection and drug susceptibility profiling of the infecting bacteria are essential for appropriate case management. The objective of this study was to determine the drug susceptibility profiles of difficult-to-treat (DTT) TB patients in Ghana.

Drug discovery research in Ghana, challenges, current efforts, and the way forward.

We have a long-term vision to develop drug discovery research capacity within Ghana, to tackle unmet medical needs in Ghana and the wider West African region. However, there are several issues and challenges that need to be overcome to enable this vision, including training, human resource, equipment, infrastructure, procurement, and logistics. We discuss these challenges from the context of Ghana in this review.

Relevance of genomic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in Africa.

Background: The diversity in the lineages of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) was initially considered insignificant. However, comparative genomics analysis of MTBC have found genomic variation among the genotypes with potential phenotypic implications.

Objective: Therefore, this viewpoint seeks to discuss the impact of the identified genotypic diversity on the physiology of MTBC and the potential implications on TB control.

Genetic Analysis of TB Susceptibility Variants in Ghana Reveals Candidate Protective Loci in and Genes.

Despite advancements made toward diagnostics, caused by (Maf) and (Mtbss) remains a major public health issue. Human host factors are key players in (TB) outcomes and treatment. Research is required to probe the interplay between host and bacterial genomes.

Diagnosis of tuberculosis among COVID-19 suspected cases in Ghana.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19 pandemics are both diseases of public health threat globally. Both diseases are caused by pathogens that infect mainly the respiratory system, and are involved in airborne transmission; they also share some clinical signs and symptoms. We, therefore, took advantage of collected sputum samples at the early stage of COVID-19 outbreak in Ghana to conduct differential diagnoses of long-standing endemic respiratory illness, particularly tuberculosis.

Genotypic and phenotypic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex genotypes prevalent in West Africa.

Findings from previous comparative genomics studies of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) suggest genomic variation among the genotypes may have phenotypic implications. We investigated the diversity in the phenotypic profiles of the main prevalent MTBC genotypes in West Africa. Thirty-six whole genome sequenced drug susceptible MTBC isolates belonging to lineages 4, 5 and 6 were included in this study.

The Relevance of Genomic Epidemiology for Control of Tuberculosis in West Africa.

Tuberculosis (TB), an airborne infectious disease caused by complex (MTBC), remains a global health problem. West Africa has a unique epidemiology of TB that is characterized by medium- to high-prevalence. Moreover, the geographical restriction of to the sub-region makes West Africa have an extra burden to deal with a two-in-one pathogen.

Molecular epidemiology and drug susceptibility profiles of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates from Northern Ghana.

Objective: We conducted a cross-sectional study in the five administrative regions of Northern Ghana to determine the diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) sub/lineages and their susceptibility to isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF).

Methods: Sputum specimens were collected and cultured from 566 pulmonary tuberculosis patients reporting to 17 health facilities from 2015 to 2019. Mycobacterial isolates obtained from solid cultures were confirmed as members of the MTBC by PCR amplification of IS6110 and rpoß and assigned lineages and sub-lineages using spoligotyping.

complex lineage 5 exhibits high levels of within-lineage genomic diversity and differing gene content compared to the type strain H37Rv.

Pathogens of the complex (MTBC) are considered to be monomorphic, with little gene content variation between strains. Nevertheless, several genotypic and phenotypic factors separate strains of the different MTBC lineages (L), especially L5 and L6 (traditionally termed ) strains, from each other. However, this genome variability and gene content, especially of L5 strains, has not been fully explored and may be important for pathobiology and current approaches for genomic analysis of MTBC strains, including transmission studies.

Molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in the Volta Region of Ghana.

Context: Available molecular epidemiological data from recent studies suggest significant genetic variation between the different lineages of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and the MTBC lineages might have adapted to different human populations.

Aim: This study sought to determine the population structure of clinical MTBC isolates from the Volta Region of Ghana.

Methods: The MTBC isolates obtained from collected sputum samples were identified by PCR detecting of IS6110 and genotyped using spoligotyping.

Genomic epidemiological analysis identifies high relapse among individuals with recurring tuberculosis and provides evidence of recent household-related transmission of tuberculosis in Ghana.

Objective: To retrospectively investigate the cause of recurring tuberculosis (rcTB) among participants with pulmonary TB recruited from a prospective population-based study conducted between July 2012 and December 2015.

Methods: Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex isolates obtained from rcTB cases were characterized by standard mycobacterial genotyping tools, whole-genome sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis carried out to assess strain relatedness.

Results: The majority (58.

Phylogenomics of reveals a new lineage and a complex evolutionary history.

Human tuberculosis (TB) is caused by members of the complex (MTBC). The MTBC comprises several human-adapted lineages known as , as well as two lineages (L5 and L6) traditionally referred to as . Strains of L5 and L6 are largely limited to West Africa for reasons unknown, and little is known of their genomic diversity, phylogeography and evolution.

A molecular and epidemiological study of Vibrio cholerae isolates from cholera outbreaks in southern Ghana.

Cholera remains a major global public health threat and continuous emergence of new Vibrio cholerae strains is of major concern. We conducted a molecular epidemiological study to detect virulence markers and antimicrobial resistance patterns of V. cholerae isolates obtained from the 2012-2015 cholera outbreaks in Ghana.

Whole Genome Sequencing and Spatial Analysis Identifies Recent Tuberculosis Transmission Hotspots in Ghana.

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is progressively being used to investigate the transmission dynamics of complex (MTBC). We used WGS analysis to resolve traditional genotype clusters and explored the spatial distribution of confirmed recent transmission clusters. Bacterial genomes from a total of 452 MTBC isolates belonging to large traditional clusters from a population-based study spanning July 2012 and December 2015 were obtained through short read next-generation sequencing using the illumina HiSeq2500 platform.

Molecular epidemiology and whole genome sequencing analysis of clinical Mycobacterium bovis from Ghana.

Background: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) caused by Mycobacterium bovis is a re-emerging problem in both livestock and humans. The association of some M. bovis strains with hyper-virulence, MDR-TB and disseminated disease makes it imperative to understand the biology of the pathogen.

TB-diabetes co-morbidity in Ghana: The importance of Mycobacterium africanum infection.

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a known risk factor for tuberculosis (TB) but little is known on TB-Diabetes Mellitus (TBDM) co-morbidity in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: Consecutive TB cases registered at a tertiary facility in Ghana were recruited from September 2012 to April 2016 and screened for DM using random blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level. TB patients were tested for other clinical parameters including HIV co-infection and TB lesion location.

Low sensitivity of the MPT64 identification test to detect lineage 5 of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex.

Purpose: Differentiation of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBc) from non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is important for tuberculosis diagnosis and is a prerequisite for reliable phenotypic drug-resistance testing. We evaluated the performance of the rapid MPT64 antigen identification test for the detection of Mycobacterium africanum lineage 5 (MAF L5).

Methodology: Smear-positive tuberculosis patients' sputa were included prospectively.

Comparative genomics of Mycobacterium africanum Lineage 5 and Lineage 6 from Ghana suggests distinct ecological niches.

Mycobacterium africanum (Maf) causes a substantial proportion of human tuberculosis in some countries of West Africa, but little is known on this pathogen. We compared the genomes of 253 Maf clinical isolates from Ghana, including N = 175 Lineage 5 (L5) and N = 78 Lineage 6 (L6). We found that the genomic diversity of L6 was higher than in L5 despite the smaller sample size.

Reduced transmission of Mycobacterium africanum compared to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in urban West Africa.

Objective: Understanding transmission dynamics is useful for tuberculosis (TB) control. A population-based molecular epidemiological study was conducted to determine TB transmission in Ghana.

Methods: Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) isolates obtained from prospectively sampled pulmonary TB patients between July 2012 and December 2015 were characterized using spoligotyping and standard 15-locus mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit variable number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR) typing for transmission studies.

Second-line anti-tuberculosis drug resistance testing in Ghana identifies the first extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis case.

Background: Drug resistance surveillance is crucial for tuberculosis (TB) control. Therefore, our goal was to determine the prevalence of second-line anti-TB drug resistance among diverse primary drug-resistant complex (MTBC) isolates in Ghana.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and seventeen MTBC isolates with varying first-line drug resistance were analyzed.

Environmental and Behavioral Drivers of Buruli Ulcer Disease in Selected Communities Along the Densu River Basin of Ghana: A Case-Control Study.

AbstractThe exact route of transmission of (MU) (causative agent of Buruli ulcer [BU]), risk factors, and reservoir hosts are not clearly known, although it has been identified as an environmental pathogen. This study assessed potential environmental and behavioral risk factors that influence BU infections. We conducted a case-control study where cases were matched by their demographic characteristics and place of residence.