Molecular and Genomic Characterization of Pathogens in Filarial Lymphedema: Antibiotic Resistance and Fungal Diversity in Ghana

DATE: Tuesday November 12th, 2024

TIME: 4-5pm Reception to Follow

LOCATION: Beetham Seminar Room, Knight Campus

HYBRID: https://uoregon.zoom.us/j/98837875801

Dr. Alexander Kwarteng

Bio: Dr. Alexander Kwarteng holds an MPhil in Clinical Microbiology (KNUST, Kumasi) and PhD in Molecular Biomedicine (University of Bonn, Germany). He did his post-doctoral studies at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research into Tropical Medicine (KCCR). Dr. Kwarteng is a faculty member at the Biochemistry and Biotechnology Department of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and has extensive experience in immunobiology, genomics, and transcriptomics of infectious diseases as well as has been involved in several filed clinical trials in infectious diseases. His ongoing projects are focused in areas of helminths, tuberculosis, and meningitis.

Abstract: Gold mining in Ghana, mainly through artisanal and small-scale operations, will continue to contribute to significant environmental pollution, including the release of heavy metals such as mercury, cyanide, arsenic, chromium, cadmium, and lead into local water bodies. These pollutants are expected to pose growing health risks to communities, especially in rural areas where mining activities are concentrated. This study will assess the potential human and animal health risks from mining-related pollution using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as bioindicators. Zebrafish, widely used in toxicological research due to their genetic similarity to humans and sensitivity to environmental contaminants, will be employed. Water samples will be collected from mining-impacted rivers in three key regions: Western, Ashanti, and Eastern Ghana. Zebrafish will be exposed to these samples under controlled laboratory conditions, and biomarkers of toxicity, including oxidative stress, inflammation, neurobehavioral changes, developmental abnormalities, genotoxicity, and gut microbiome, will be measured. These biomarkers will be analyzed to assess long-term health risks such as cancer. The results are expected to reveal elevated levels of heavy metals in the water, correlating with adverse effects on zebrafish health. This research will offer vital insights into the potential health risks posed to humans and animals by contaminated water sources in mining regions. The study will highlight the necessity for regulatory measures to reduce and monitor pollution to safeguard vulnerable populations from the long-term health effects of gold mining in Ghana.

Dr. Amma Larbi

Bio: Dr Amma Larbi  holds a PhD in Immunology, an MSc in Clinical Microbiology and BSc in Biochemistry from KNUST. She conducted her Masters and PhD research at Noguchi memorial Institute for medical (NMIMR), University of Ghana, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA and Weill Cornell Medical School, Department of Infectious Diseases, NY, USA. She is a member of professional bodies such as Ghana Science Association, Ghana Immunological society, Organization for Women in Science for the developing world, BioStruct-Africa, International Society for Infectious diseases, and American Society of microbiology. Her research interests span broadly on host-pathogen interactions, immunology of infectious diseases, Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and Genomics. Her current research  is focused on the role of microbiome in NTDs as well as malaria genomics.

Abstract: Malaria continues to be a major health problem despite various interventions aimed at eradicating the disease. There is an annual global death of over 608,000. The human intestinal tract or gut contains a wide variety of microorganisms that are essential for the health of the host. The microbiome composition varies by age and by body site and it appears that health is associated with greater bacterial diversity in most anatomical sites. Early alterations in the microbiome composition have been linked to the development of diseases later in life, and may increase susceptibility to specific infections, including malaria. The host's gut microbiome may be altered by malaria and the host’s microbiome composition may influence the progression of malaria-induced pathology. These discoveries highlight the bidirectional relationship between malaria and the gut microbiome, with potential implications for both disease advancement and host vulnerability. The interplay between bacteria and host response, and the mechanism by which microbiome plays a role in severe malaria remains to be fully understood.  Metagenomic sequencing using Next-Generation Sequencing was used to characterize the microbiome of children with uncomplicated Malaria. Out of the 113 participants with a mean age of 12.10±2.3, 60 (53.1%) had malaria. The study showed that the presence of certain bacteria in the gut bacterial community are essential drivers of severe disease.

One slide and three minutes. That's all that graduate student competitors can use during this lively part of the Graduate Research Forum taking place on Thursday, November 21, 2024. This is a great opportunity for competitors to hone their presentation skills, network early in the academic year, and get a chance to qualify to represent the UO at national and international 3MT competitions. (And win cash prizes!). Winners of the UO 3MT competition win cash prizes (First place wins $500; second place $300; third place $200). The first place competitor will be eligible to participate in the regional competition hosted by the Western Association of Graduate Schools in mid-March 2025.

If you are a master's or doctoral student and would like to present your work, research or accomplishment? Apply here https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/5be942d9aef74d2ab9d7b60ed53f8686.