Electron Microscopy & Histopathology

he main research focus of the Department of Electron Microscopy and Histopathology in the past 20 years has been diarrhoeal diseases, with emphasis on viral agents, especially rotaviruses and noroviruses. Our objective has been to provide evidence-based data to shape local and international policy, ultimately resulting in the reduction of the burden imposed on vulnerable populations. The Department is a founding member of the African Rotavirus Surveillance Network (ARSN), set up in 2006 to initiate and facilitate childhood diarrhoeal disease burden studies and rotavirus surveillance activities across Africa. The Department hosts the WHO Rotavirus Regional Reference Laboratory (RRL) which serves West Africa as one of 9 global RRLs. The RRL provides technical and administrative support as well as training for paediatricians, senior scientists and technicians from ARSN member countries in West Africa in the identification and molecular characterization of rotaviruses and noroviruses. The Department is also a key member of the Global Paediatric Diarrhoea Surveillance (GPDS) Network, leveraging its expanded diagnostic expertise to support GPDS sites within ARSN member countries in the sub-region in the simultaneous identification and characterization of over 20 diarrhoeal pathogens using customized Taqman microarray cards. The Department has built capacity in several critical areas over the years, including: Ultramicrotomy and Electron Microscopy Molecular epidemiology of viral agents of gastroenteritis in children Clinical trials for available enteric viral vaccines candidates in Ghana Advocacy for rotavirus vaccine introduction in Africa (Rota council) Targeted gene sequencing (Sanger method) Whole genome sequencing (Illumina, MiSeq and Oxford Nanopore platforms) Bioinformatics Cell culture propagation of rotaviruses and genetic engineering of recombinant rotaviruses using plasmid based reverse genetic system

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