Contact

TREPONEMA STUDY

Project leader: Dr. (Mrs.) Augustina Angelina Sylverken

Phone: +233 244 214625
Fax: +
E-Mail: asylverken@knust.edu.gh

Research Team: Now enrolling members

Overview

Dr. Augustina Sylverken is a Clinical Microbiologist by training and a Lecturer at the Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Faculty of Sciences, KNUST. She is interested in zoonotic diseases especially those of viral origin. Through an integrated approach, together with her collaborators, from Germany and Tanzania, they hope to understand the evolution and epidemiology of Simian and human Treponema strains from Africa. Titled ‘The potential of nonhuman primates as a reservoir for human yaws’ the project also seeks to understand the role of inter-species transmission.

Conducting this project will allow for generation of new laboratory Treponema strains which will allow advanced immunological research and the creation of translational animal models which could open new pathways for vaccine development and testing. In the spirit of the ‘One Health Concept’, the capacities of young and early career researchers would be built and as well strengthening north-south and south-south research partnership among collaborating institutions.

Publications

  1. Kwarteng A, Amuasi J, Annan A, Ahuno S, Opare D, Nagel M, Vinnemeier C, May J, Owusu-Dabo E: Current meningitis outbreak in Ghana: Historical perspectives and the importance of diagnostics. Acta Trop 2017, 169:51-56.
  2. Annan AA, Yar DD, Owusu M, Biney EA, Forson PK, Okyere PB, Gyimah AA, Owusu-Dabo E: Health care workers indicate ill preparedness for Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Ashanti Region of Ghana. BMC public health 2017, 17(1):546.
  3. Owusu M, Owusu-Dabo E, Acheampong G, Osei I, Amuasi J, Sarpong N, Annan A, Chiang H-Y, Kuo C-H, Park SE: Pseudomonas oryzihabitans sepsis in a 1-year-old child with multiple skin rashes: a case report. Journal of medical case reports 2017, 11(1):77.
  4. Kwarteng A, Frimpong M, Sylverken AA, Arthur YD, Ahuno ST, Owusu-Dabo E: Graduate students’ interest in immunology as a discipline. Cogent Education 2017, 4(1).
  5. Amegashie EA, Annan AA, Awuah AA-A, Larbi R, Addofoh N, Feglo PK, Owusu-Dabo E: Missed opportunities for the diagnosis of Brucella infection among slaughterhouse workers at the Kumasi Abattoir, Ghana. Journal of Epidemiological Research 2017, 3(2):58.
  6. Sylverken AA, Owusu-Dabo E, Yar DD, Salifu SP, Awua-Boateng NY, Amuasi JH, Okyere PB, Agyarko-Poku T: Bacterial etiology of sexually transmitted infections at a STI clinic in Ghana; use of multiplex real time PCR. Ghana Medical Journal 2016, 50(3):142-148.
  7. Annan A, Ebach F, Corman V, Krumkamp R, Adu-Sarkodie Y, Eis-Hübinger A, Kruppa T, Simon A, May J, Evans J: Similar virus spectra and seasonality in paediatric patients with acute respiratory disease, Ghana and Germany. Clinical Microbiology and Infection 2016, 22(4):340-346.
  8. Baffour-Awuah S, Annan AA, Maiga-Ascofare O, Dieudonné SD, Adjei-Kusi P, Owusu-Dabo E, Obiri-Danso K: Insecticide resistance in malaria vectors in Kumasi, Ghana. Parasites & Vectors 2016, 9(1):633.
  9. Yar DD, Salifu SP, Darko SN, Annan AA, Gyimah AA, Buabeng KO, Owusu-Dabo E: Genotypic characterisation of human papillomavirus infections among persons living with HIV infection; a case-control study in Kumasi, Ghana. Trop Med Int Health 2016, 21(2):275-282.
  10. Amegashie EA, Owusu-Dabo E, Salifu SP, Awuah AA-A, Baffour-Awuah S, Addofoh N, Annan A, Winter CH: Sero-prevalence and occupational risk factors for Brucella infection among slaughterhouse workers and butchers in Kumasi, Ghana. Journal of Epidemiological Research 2016, 3(1):17.
  11. Binger T, Annan A, Drexler JF, Müller MA, Kallies R, Adankwah E, Wollny R, Kopp A, Heidemann H, Dei D et al: A Novel Rhabdovirus Isolated from the Straw-Colored Fruit Bat Eidolon helvum, with Signs of Antibodies in Swine and Humans. Journal of Virology 2015, 89(8):4588-4597.
  12. Anti P, Owusu M, Agbenyega O, Annan A, Badu EK, Nkrumah EE, Tschapka M, Oppong S, Adu-Sarkodie Y, Drosten C: Human–Bat Interactions in Rural West Africa. Emerging infectious diseases 2015, 21(8):1418-1421.
  13. Annan A, Owusu M, Marfo KS, Larbi R, Sarpong FN, Adu‐Sarkodie Y, Amankwa J, Fiafemetsi S, Drosten C, Owusu‐Dabo E: High prevalence of common respiratory viruses and no evidence of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus in Hajj pilgrims returning to Ghana, 2013. Tropical Medicine & International Health 2015, 20(6):807-812.
  14. Corman VM, Baldwin HJ, Fumie Tateno A, Melim Zerbinati R, Annan A, Owusu M, Nkrumah EE, Maganga GD, Oppong S, Adu-Sarkodie Y et al: Evidence for an ancestral association of human coronavirus 229E with bats. Journal of Virology 2015.
  15. Junglen S, Marklewitz M, Zirkel F, Wollny R, Meyer B, Heidemann H, Metzger S, Annan A, Dei D, Leendertz FH et al: No Evidence of Gouleako and Herbert Virus Infections in Pigs, Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana. Emerging infectious diseases 2015, 21(12):2190-2193.
  16. Eckerle I, Annan A, Drosten C: Response to the letter to the editor: Barasheed et al., 'No evidence of MERS-CoV in Ghanaian Hajj pilgrims: cautious interpretation is needed'. Trop Med Int Health 2015, 20(8):1123-1124.
  17. Annan AA, Kruppa TF, Adjei O, Garms R: Palp ratio as a field identification tool for two members of the Anopheles gambiae complex in Ghana (A. melas and A. gambiae). Parasites & vectors 2015, 8(1):295.
  18. Baffour-Awuah S, Owusu-Dabo E, Kruppa T, Annan A, Nartey R, Dogbe J, Pandam S, Becker N, Oppong S, Obiri-Danso K: Lysinibacillus sphaericus biolarvicide, an efficacious tool in the control of Anopheles gambiae in Kumasi, Ghana. East African Journal of Public Health 2014, 11(4):903-913.
  19. Annan A, Owusu-Dabo E, Baffour-Awuah S, Nartey R, Nimako S, Ayimbire A, Salifu P, Amoyaw F, Segbaya S, Ohene B: Insecticide resistance in malaria vector mosquitoes at 5 selected districts in Ghana, West Africa. East African Journal of Public Health 2014, 11(4):830-838.
  20. Owusu M, Annan A, Corman VM, Larbi R, Anti P, Drexler JF, Agbenyega O, Adu-Sarkodie Y, Drosten C: Human coronaviruses associated with upper respiratory tract infections in three rural areas of Ghana. PloS one 2014, 9(7):e99782.
  21. Annan A, Baldwin H, Corman V, Klose S, Owusu M, Nkrumah E, Badu E, Anti P, Agbenyega O, Meyer B: Human betacoronavirus 2c EMC/2012–related viruses in bats, Ghana and Europe. Emerging infectious diseases 2013.
  22. Owusu-Dabo E, Annan AA, Larbi J, Dodor EA, Anakwah L, Frimpong E, Bonsu F: Missed opportunities for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in ashanti and western regions of ghana; polymerase chain reaction, a better tool. Journal of Science and Technology 2013, 33(1):34-40.
  23. Drexler JF, Geipel A, König A, Corman VM, van Riel D, Leijten LM, Bremer CM, Rasche A, Cottontail VM, Maganga GD et al: Bats carry pathogenic hepadnaviruses antigenically related to hepatitis B virus and capable of infecting human hepatocytes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2013.
  24. Drexler JF, Reber U, Muth D, Herzog P, Annan A, Ebach F, Sarpong N, Acquah S, Adlkofer J, Adu-Sarkodie Y: Human Parvovirus 4 in Nasal and Fecal Specimens from Children, Ghana. Emerging infectious diseases 2012, 18(10):1650.
  25. Drexler JF, Corman VM, Gloza-Rausch F, Seebens A, Annan A, Ipsen A, Kruppa T, Müller MA, Kalko EK, Adu-Sarkodie Y: Henipavirus RNA in African bats. PloS one 2009, 4(7):e6367.
  26. Pfefferle S, Oppong S, Drexler JF, Gloza-Rausch F, Ipsen A, Seebens A, Müller MA, Annan A, Vallo P, Adu-Sarkodie Y: Distant relatives of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and close relatives of human coronavirus 229E in bats, Ghana. Emerging infectious diseases 2009, 15(9):1377.
  27. Drexler JF, Kupfer B, Petersen N, Grotto RM, Rodrigues SM, Grywna K, Panning M, Annan A, Silva GF, Douglas J et al: A novel diagnostic target in the hepatitis C virus genome. PLoS Med 2009, 6(2):e31.
  28. Panning M, Wichmann D, Grywna K, Annan A, Wijesinghe S, Kularatne S, Drosten C: No evidence of chikungunya virus and antibodies shortly before the outbreak on Sri Lanka. Medical microbiology and immunology 2009, 198(2):103.
  29. Gloza-Rausch F, Ipsen A, Seebens A, Gottsche M, Panning M, Felix Drexler J, Petersen N, Annan A, Grywna K, Muller M et al: Detection and prevalence patterns of group I coronaviruses in bats, northern Germany. Emerging infectious diseases 2008, 14(4):626-631.

Funding

DFG, Germany