Vector Biology Research group

Kumasi Centre for Collaborative    Research in Tropical Medicine

KNUST

Kumasi

k.badu@kccr.de

Mobile (+233) 265012563

Profile:

I bring on board over 12 years of consistent research and teaching experience in transmission dynamics and diagnostics of vector-borne infectious disease epidemiology.  My current research focuses on identifying               biomarkers with dual functionalities in tracking transmission intensity and accurate diagnosis of infectious diseases at the community/household/individual levels. The goal is to develop robust tools to identify hot spots to transform surveillance into a core intervention to support elimination programmes. I lead the vector-borne infectious disease research group (www.vectorgenes.com) supported by the EU-EDCTP2 Career Development Fellowship and other funding agencies such as the NIH, DFG and AREF.

Education and Training

Positions and Employment

2020 to Date              Senior Lecturer/PI; Dept. of Theoretical & Applied Biology, KNUST

2018 to date:                 Snr. Research Fellow, Vector Biology Group, KCCR/ KNUST

2016 – 2020                 Lecturer/Research scientist, Dept. of Theoretical & Applied Biology, KNUST

2013- 2016                  Lecturer, Garden City University College, Kumasi

2012- 2016                  Postdoctoraal Fellow Dept. of Immunology, NMIMR, University of Ghana.

2008- 2012                  Visiting Scientist (Ph. D candidate), KEMRI – CGHR, Kisumu, Kenya

2007- 2008                  Lecturer: Garden City University College, Kenyase, Kumasi

2006- 2007                  Jnr. Research Fellow (Entomology) KCCR/KNUST

2002- 2006                  Research Assistant (Entomology) KCCR/SMS/KNUST

Honors/Membership

Member: Entomological Society of Ghana

Member: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Member: Ghana Science Association

Member: Africa Researchers network for Neglected Tropical Diseases

2020:   Africa Research Excellence Leadership (AREF) Fellowship

2019:    Best senior member (Grants) Excellence Awards, College of Science, KNUST

2017:    Fellow: Young Affiliate – African Academy of Science

2017:    Fellow: African-German Network of Excellence in Science

2016:    Scholarship: Biology of Parasitism, MBL, Woods Hole, MA, USA

2015:   Fellow: African Research Excellence Fund (AREF_Research development), MRF, UK

Teaching and supervision

International conferences attended

• Oral presentation: Symposium 59: Title of Talk: Arthropod Saliva: Current Research Avenues and Future OpportunitiesAnopheles Salivary gland and ookinete peptides: Malaria Infectious bite markers for community and household level surveillance. Conference: American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Venue: Seattle Convention Center, Room 611/612, Seattle WA, USA Dates: 28^th October to November 4^th 2022

• Poster Presentation. Title of poster Secreted Ookinete Protein as A Marker of Infectious Bites For Assessing Transmission Dynamics At The Population Level Conference: Ninth EDCTP Forum, Lisbon, Portugal. Dates: September 2018
• 7^th Mim Pan African Malaria Conference, Dakar, Senegal, 15-20. 2018

• Oral Presentation Title of talk”Entomological Assessments of the transmission of Onchocerca volvulus by Simulium sanctipauli within the forest zone of Ghana: intermittent disappearance of the vector? Gordon Research Conference: Theme: Tropical Infectious Diseases; Challenges Opportunities And Successes, Galveston, Texas USA, 2015:

1. Contribution to Science

Vector-borne NTDs: Based on my interest in vector-borne and Neglected Tropical disease, I have investigated the basic biology of vectors (insects transmitting diseases), the transmission potential and dynamics, the pathogens they transmit as well as coinfections and possible control of these diseases. This ranges from onchocerciasis, trypanosomiasis, cutaneous leishmaniasis and malaria. It is intriguing to identify that, illegal surface mining near rivers, which contaminates the river also prevents the aquatic stages of black flies and thus halt transmission of onchocerciasis.

1. Garms, R., Badu, K., Owusu-Dabo, E., Baffour-Awuah, S., Adjei, O., Debrah, A. Y., … & Kruppa, T. F. (2015). Assessments of the transmission of Onchocerca volvulus by Simulium sanctipauli in the Upper Denkyira District, Ghana, and the intermittent disappearance of the vector.Parasitology research, 114(3), 1129-1137.
2. Goonoo, N., Laetitia Huët, M. A., Chummun, I., Karuri, N., Badu, K., Gimié, F., … & Bhaw-Luximon, A. (2022). Nanomedicine-based strategies to improve treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.Royal Society Open Science, 9(6), 220058.
3. Yeboaa, C., Boamah, V. E., Odoi, H., Owusu-Ntim, R., Boakye, Y. D., Nuako, G. K., … & Badu, K. (2021). Diversity And Antibiograms of Secondary Bacterial Isolates from Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Wounds. Research square. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1171741/v1

Sero-surveillance: I have investigated malaria transmission dynamics across different transmission intensity cline in the western Kenyan highlands and Ghana, where I have significantly contributed to knowledge in heterogeneous malaria exposure: That Heterogeneity in the risk of exposure is present at all levels of endemicity; becoming very significant at the community levels. Measurement of malaria transmission intensity will benefit from some innovation due to the operationally laborious, high cost and increasing inaccuracies and sometimes unethical nature of using human landing catches approaches for the measurement of EIR. My research has made significant contribution in validating sero-surveillance approaches and has provided critical evidence that Serological tools based on human antibody responses to PfMSP1₁₉, PfCSP and Anopheles gambiae salivary gland protein (gSG6) are a credible alternative.

5. Badu K, Afrane YA, Larbi J, Stewart VN, Waitumbi J, Angov E, Ong’echa JM, Perkins DJ, Zhou G, Githeko A, Yan G: Marked variation in MSP-1₁₉ antibody responses to malaria in western Kenyan Highlands. BMC Infect Dis 2012, 12:50.
6. Baum E, Badu K, Molina DM, Liang X, Felgner PL, and Yan G. Protein Microarray Analysis of Antibody Responses to Plasmodium falciparum in Western Kenyan Highland Sites with Differing Transmission Levels. 2013. PLoS ONE  8(12): e82246. doi:10.1371
7. Badu, K., Larbi, A. A., & Boampong, K. (2021). Malaria Elimination: The Role and Value of Sero-Surveillance. (2021). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.97131

Emerging infectious Diseases: With the emergence of viral zoonotic infections of pandemic proportions, I have significantly contributed to the review of varying literature to promote understanding, preparedness and response to support public health resilience in Africa. These include fundamental understanding in viral nature, shedding and transmission dynamics, WHO guidelines and testing capacities contact tracing and underestimation of Monkeypox virus cases

• Mosi, L., Sylverken, A. A., Oyebola, K., Badu, K., Dukhi, N., Goonoo, N., … & Matoke-Muhia, D. (2021). Correlating WHO COVID-19 interim guideline 2020.5 and testing capacity, accuracy, and logistical challenges in Africa.Pan African Medical Journal, 39(1).

10. Aidoo, E. K., Squire, D. S., Atuahene, O. O. D., Badu, K., Botchway, F. A., Osei-Adjei, G., … & Krogfelt, K. A. (2022). Joint COVID-19 Contact Tracing and Malaria Reactive Case Detection as Efficient Strategies for Disease Control. COVID, 2(9), 1244-1252.
11. Bragazzi, N. L., Woldegerima, W. A., Iyaniwura, S. A., Han, Q., Wang, X., Shausan, A., Badu, K., & Kong, J. D. (2022). Knowing the unknown: The underestimation of monkeypox cases. Insights and implications from an integrative review of the literature.Frontiers in Microbiology, 13.

Malaria diagnostics : Accurate malaria diagnosis is crucial as it warrants prompt treatment and prevent, presumbptive treatment. This will eventually will slow drug resistance Rapid Test Kits based on Histidine Rich Protein 2/3 come in very handy but presents issus of false negatives due to the hrp2 gene deletions .. I have collaborated with scientist in the USA and Burundi to develop molecular assays for the monitoring of hrp2 deletions as well as develop alternative testing for malaria based on mass spectrometer technology.

15. Niyukuri, D., Sinzinkayo, D., Troth, E. V., Oduma, C. O., Barengayabo, M., Ndereyimana, M., Holzschuh, A., Vera-Arias, C.A., Gebre, Y., Badu, K. … & Koepfli, C. (2022). Performance of highly sensitive and conventional rapid diagnostic tests for clinical and subclinical Plasmodium falciparum infections, and hrp2/3 deletion status in Burundi. PLOS Global Public Health, 2(7), e0000828.
16. Lee, S., Kulyk, D. S., Afriyie, S. O., Badu, K., & Badu-Tawiah, A. K. (2022). Malaria Diagnosis Using Paper-Based Immunoassay for Clinical Blood Sampling and Analysis by a Miniature Mass Spectrometer.Analytical Chemistry, 94(41), 14377-14384.
17. Afriyie, S. O., Addison, T. K., Gebre, Y., Mutala, A. H., Antwi, K. B., Abbas, D. A., … & Badu, K. (2022). Accuracy of diagnosis among clinical malaria patients: comparing microscopy, RDT, and a highly sensitive quantitative PCR and the implication of submicroscopic infections.

Research Support

2019 – 2024:                 Sub-Award USD $1,340,000.00 NIH R01Ai143809- 6007100 Grant Malaria Management through an On – Demand Diagnostic Approach using Novel Ionic Probes (Co-I)

2018 -2022:                 EUR €144,500.00 EDCTP TMA2016CDF-1605 Fellowship PSOP24-377: An infectious bite marker for sensitive malaria detection.             Role: Principal Investigator

2018-2018:                  DFG African German Research co-operation in infectiology (Grant Number DFG KE 428/13-1) Partners: Sørge Kelm, UB, Bremen, Germany (coordinator) Role: (Co -investigator) Funding: Total grant: 742.165 Euro, Dr. Badu: 155.235Euro

01/04/2016:                 €10,000.00 TWAS-DFG Cooperation Visits Programme for scientists from sub-Saharan Africa Ref.:3240285656 Fellowship DNA barcoding and vector incrimination of sandfly species implicated in leishmaniasis outbreak in Ghana.

2015 – 2017:                 £23,000.00 Africa Research Excellence Fund MRF-157-0007-F-BADU Fellowship Developing Biomarker(s) of Infectious Anopheles Bite with a Potential for Blocking Malaria Transmission

01/01/2014 – 2015       University of Ghana Research Development Fund (URF/6/ILG-018/2012-2 ) (Ghana cedis 25,000.00) PF11_0394: A dual immuno – epidemiological biomarker of vector exposure and malaria risk Utilizing malaria protein expressed in salivary gland to identify individuals recently exposed to malaria

Full publication records available at Google scholar link below

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=de6nT0EAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate

About 60 publications up to date