Genomic analysis of Enterobacteriaceae from colorectal cancer patients at a tertiary hospital in Ghana: a case-control study.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a severe gastrointestinal cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Ghana. The potential role of gut Enterobacteriaceae in the increasing incidence of CRC in Ghana is yet to be thoroughly investigated. In this study, Enterobacteriaceae from CRC patients and healthy control participants were analyzed by whole genome sequencing to identify genomic features that are associated with CRC.

The global transcriptome of mid-stage gametocytes (stages II-IV) appears largely conserved and gametocyte-specific gene expression patterns vary in clinical isolates.

Our overall understanding of the developmental biology of malaria parasites has been greatly enhanced by recent advances in transcriptomic analysis. However, most of these investigations rely on laboratory strains (LS) that were adapted into culture many years ago, and the transcriptomes of clinical isolates (CI) circulating in human populations have not been assessed. In this study, RNA-seq was used to compare the global transcriptome of mid-stage gametocytes derived from three short-term cultured CI, with gametocytes derived from the NF54 reference laboratory strain.

Acquisition and carriage of genetically diverse multi-drug resistant gram-negative bacilli in hospitalised newborns in The Gambia.

Background: This detailed genomic study characterised multi-drug resistant-Gram negative bacilli (MDR-GNB) carriage in neonates < 2 kg and paired mothers at a low-resource African hospital.

Methods: This cross-sectional cohort study was conducted at the neonatal referral unit in The Gambia with weekly neonatal skin and peri-anal sampling and paired maternal recto-vaginal swabs. Prospective bacteriological culture used MacConkey agar with species identification by API20E and API20NE.

Maternal colonization and early-onset neonatal bacterial sepsis in the Gambia, West Africa: a genomic analysis of vertical transmission.

Objectives: To define bacterial aetiology of neonatal sepsis and estimate the prevalence of neonatal infection from maternal genital tract bacterial carriage among mother-newborn pairs.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study of newborns with clinical sepsis admitted to three hospitals in the Gambia neonatal wards. Neonatal blood cultures and maternal genital swabs were obtained at recruitment.

Impact of intra-partum azithromycin on carriage of group A streptococcus in the Gambia: a posthoc analysis of a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a major human pathogen and an important cause of maternal and neonatal sepsis. Asymptomatic bacterial colonization is considered a necessary step towards sepsis. Intra-partum azithromycin may reduce GAS carriage.

Machine learning approaches classify clinical malaria outcomes based on haematological parameters.

Background: Malaria is still a major global health burden, with more than 3.2 billion people in 91 countries remaining at risk of the disease. Accurately distinguishing malaria from other diseases, especially uncomplicated malaria (UM) from non-malarial infections (nMI), remains a challenge.

Antibody Reactivity to Merozoite Antigens in Ghanaian Adults Correlates With Growth Inhibitory Activity Against in Culture.

Background: uses a repertoire of merozoite-stage proteins for invasion of erythrocytes. Antibodies against some of these proteins halt the replication cycle of the parasite by preventing erythrocyte invasion and are implicated as contributors to protective immunity against malaria.

Methods: We assayed antibody reactivity against a panel of 9 recombinant antigens based on erythrocyte-binding antigen (EBA) and reticulocyte-like homolog (Rh) proteins in plasma from children with malaria and healthy adults residing in 3 endemic areas in Ghana using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Highlights on the Application of Genomics and Bioinformatics in the Fight Against Infectious Diseases: Challenges and Opportunities in Africa.

Genomics and bioinformatics are increasingly contributing to our understanding of infectious diseases caused by bacterial pathogens such as and parasites such as . This ranges from investigations of disease outbreaks and pathogenesis, host and pathogen genomic variation, and host immune evasion mechanisms to identification of potential diagnostic markers and vaccine targets. High throughput genomics data generated from pathogens and animal models can be combined with host genomics and patients' health records to give advice on treatment options as well as potential drug and vaccine interactions.

Immune oxysterols: Role in mycobacterial infection and inflammation.

Infection remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Natural defenses to infection are mediated by intrinsic/innate and adaptive immune responses. While our understanding is considerable it is incomplete and emerging areas of research such as those related to the immune-metabolic axis are only beginning to be appreciated.