HIV/AIDs - Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research

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continue the in vitro search for Ghanaian plant medicines with anti-HIV properties, and (iv) Better understand the socio-cultural determinants of AIDS disease. Studies conducted in 2011 included the following: • The socio-cultural and bio-behavioral survey in high and low HIV prevalent areas in Ghana that examined socio-cultural and behavioral factors that contribute to high or low HIV prevalence in selected sites across Ghana. The study was a research partnership with the School of Public Heal.th and funded by the Ghana AIDS Commission • An integrated biological-behavioral surveillance survey (IBBSS) launched among men who have sex with men in Ghana. The objective was to measure HIV prevalence, sexually transmitted infections, related risk behaviors, and access to prevention and care services. This collaborated by the Ghana AIDS Commission involved the University of California San Francisco and the University of Ghana Regional Institute for Population Studies. The study concluded recruitment at the various study sites and data analyses is ongoing. • The Size Estimation of Female Sex Workers is funded by the Ghana AIDS Commission and implemented by FHI360, in collaboration with the WAPCAS, Pro-Link Worldwide International Youth Organization and the NMIMR. This nationwide survey, conducted in all ten regions has been completed and data analyses are underway. Following the completion of the first national HIV Threshold survey for HIV drug resistance in collaboration with the National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NACP) in the Eastern Region, a second HIV drug resistance survey in treatment naive HIV patients was launched in in 2011 in two sites in the Central and Western regions. In collaboration with the Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Japan, investigations were launched to determine the efficacy of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) in persons undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the Eastern region of Ghana. Further work was done on an in-house assay for HIV-1 viral load measurements based on a real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction platform. Treatment failures were recorded during drug therapy and genotyping was performed to assess the level of HIV-1drug resistance in the study population. A cross-sectional survey of known long-term HIV infections was undertaken by NACP, NMIMR and CDC (Global AIDS Program Division) to estimate the Ghanaian misclassification rates on assays to measure HIV incidence. The Institute in collaboration with the Yale University School of Medicine and the University of Ghana Medical School, is investigating biomarkers to monitor responses to antiretroviral therapy in Ghana. A prospective longitudinal cohort of HIV-infected individuals receiving care at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital has been established to study viral and host markers to determine the efficacy of antiretroviral treatment. Other studies on STDs undertaken included;
• Examination of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections among Female Sex Workers in Accra and Kumasi, • Sexual and Reproductive Health Resilience of Adolescent in Ghana and Tanzania As part of the nationwide Know Your Status campaign, the NMIMR continued to provide and promote counseling and testing for HIV for the University of Ghana community. This activity has been implemented in collaboration with the University of Ghana Hospital, Legon, enabling a comprehensive HIV and AIDS care, testing and prevention programs for the Legan campus. With support provided by the NACP, free counseling and testing for HIV infection has been offered for over 4,000 staff, students and various other non-staff/ student that make up the Legon community. There is a greater awareness within the Legon community about the importance of knowing one's HIV status and this illustrates the success of a strategic partnership to implement a targeted HIV intervention program. Ghanaian and Japanese scientists investigating HW samples for ART resistance The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) Research Collaboration laun.ched in 2008 entered its third year in 2011. In 2011, work continued on examining the development of resistance in patients on ART. Poliomyelitis and other Enteroviruses Since November 2011, the NMIMR Polio laboratory has successfully implemented a new WHO algorithm for real time PCR identification of wild or vaccine-derived Poliovirus for the West African sub region including Togo, Benin and Mali. In December 2011, the Polio laboratory was identified by the WHO as a potential Poliovirus sequencing center for the West African sub region. See activities of the WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis (WHO RRL-NMIMR). Staff of the Institute supported the Ghana Health Service Polio Eradication Programme through training and actual participation in field work during national immunization days. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) In the group of viral agents responsible for liver damage and disease, HBV remains very relevant to Ghana because of its high prevalence within the population. While not all persons progress to the chronic infection stage, those who do are at substantially increased risk of developing chronic liver diseases, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Chronic conditions can be verified in a longitudinal manner and repeated measurements of the genomic material in estimating the viral burden remains a very effective tool in the clinical management of HBV associated liver disease.
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HIV/AIDs - Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research

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