Awards & Recognitions

The Vice Chancellor’s Academic Prize was awarded to Dr. James A.M Brandful for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation in Science for 2012 Congregation, Great Hall, May 4th, 2012. The award was based on his doctoral thesis leading to the degree of Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology obtained in June 2009.

A short summary of PhD thesis work

This was titled ‘Genotypic and Phenotypic Characterization of HIV Type 1 in Parts of Ghana’. The study examined 40 samples collected in 2002/3 from HIV-1 AIDS disease and asymptomatic patients prior to antiretroviral therapy (ART). The focus was on under-investigated areas of Ghana, covering the middle and northern belts. Genetic diversity and the potential for the emergence of resistance to antiretroviral drugs in this group and therefore implications for ART were examined.

Main observations included the following: A diversity of non-subtype B HIV-1 strains was prevalent. The simultaneous circulation of these diverse variants, even in a small sample size, suggested that changes in the genotypic profile of HIV-1 in Ghana will continue. Majority of the isolates were non-syncytium inducing R5 viruses even in late disease stage. Syncytium-inducing or X4 strains also co-circulated, but were rare. Genetic sequence data indicated that antagonists to R5 viruses could therefore be extremely effective theoretically as antiviral agents for HIV-1 strains from Ghana, along with two broad neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, namely 2F5 and 4E10.

The transmission of drug resistant (DR) HIV-1 strains through CRF02_AG, even before the initiation of ART was probable. PR V11I mutation, among others, was observed in patients with CRF02_AG and CRF06_cpx infections, recombinants chiefly now responsible for AIDS in Ghana. The use of darunavir (DRV) and fosamprenavir (FPV), not currently included in the ART regimen prescribed in Ghana had to be avoided in such patients.

The identification of DR-related mutations in drug-inexperienced patients constituted important new information that is relevant for ART in Ghana. Also, the study had far-reaching implications for possible new clinical interventions from phenotypic aspects of the work.

The diverse genetic profile of HIV-1 in Ghana has to be continuously monitored.