Noguchi Bacteriology

The Department of Bacteriology, committed to enhancing the quality of life for Ghanaians and the global population, focuses on researching bacterial diseases with significant public health implications. Operating within the framework of both the global research agenda and Ghana's research priorities, the department has established three flagship research programs: Mycobacterial diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance/Stewardship, and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) of bacterial etiology. In Ghana, Buruli ulcer (BU) and tuberculosis (TB) stand out as the two most critical mycobacterial diseases, prompting the department to actively contribute to the global fight against TB and BU. Collaborating with various research partners, their studies aim to enhance understanding of disease epidemiology, genetic diversity within the causative agents, host-pathogen interactions, and laboratory diagnosis. The department boasts state-of-the-art facilities and expertise, particularly in genomics, DNA fingerprinting (spoligotyping, MIRU/VNTR, RD and SNP), and immunodiagnostics for TB (QuantiFERON TB tests, T.Spot-TB tests). Notably, their Pathogen Level 3 (P3) facility is considered the best in West Africa, where much of their TB research is conducted. The focus on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and stewardship involves the detection of AMR in commonly isolated bacterial species across various settings, including hospitals, communities, food, livestock, and water. The department utilizes both phenotypic methods such as disk diffusion and broth dilution, and molecular techniques including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) to identify AMR genes. This comprehensive approach allows them to address the growing concern of antibiotic resistance in pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp, Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae. Their studies on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) of bacterial o