Department of Physiology

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    A novel I247T missense mutation in the haptoglobin 2 β-chain decreases the expression of the protein and is associated with ahaptoglobinemia
    (Human Genetics, 2004) Teye, K.; Quaye, I.K.E.; Koda, Y.; Adjei, A.A.; Pang, H.; Tsuneoka, M.; Kimura, H.
    We have identified a novel base substitution at codon 247 in the β-chain of the haptoglobin 2 (Hp 2 ) allele in a Ghanaian with the Hp0 (ahaptoglobinemic) phenotype. The heterozygous T→C substitution caused reduced expression of the protein when the mutant was transfected into COS7 cells. The base substitution resulted in a missense change of the non-polar amino acid isoleucine to the polar amino acid threonine at a position in the β-chain that is highly conserved among several species. We had previously identified a mutation in the Hp gene promoter region for the same individual, which gives her genotype as –61CHp 2 /–61CHp 2 (I247T). Since the –61C mutation also leads to low Hp expression, the genotype represents the first and most definitive ahaptoglobinemic case reported in Africa.
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    Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection among tuberculosis suspect patients in Accra, Ghana.
    (West African Journal of Medicine, 2006) Adjei, A.A.; Adiku, T.K.; Ayeh-Kumi, P.F.; Hesse, I.F.A.
    BACKGROUND: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a major public health concern worldwide, particularly in Ghana, where recent reports indicate an increase of the disease. A close association between infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) is well known. A previous study showed a 16.8% seroprevalence of HIV in TB patients on admission at the chest clinic of the Korle-Bu teaching hospital. However this was in severely ill patients on admission and there was a likely selection bias. This study was therefore designed to determine the prevalence of HIV infection among patients suspected of TB attending the laboratory of the chest clinic of the Korle-Bu Teaching hospital, Accra, Ghana. METHODS: Pulmonary TB was diagnosed using clinical, sputum smear microscopy and chest x-ray features. HIV was determined using particle agglutination test (HIV-1 and HIV-2) and synthetic peptide-based immunoassay (Peptilav I and II ELISA). RESULTS: Of the 277 subjects examined, 108 (39%) were diagnosed as TB. The seroprevalence of HIV was 46.2% in all TB suspect patients. It was 47.2% and 45.6% in those with and without tuberculosis, respectively. in both groups, the peak age distribution of subjects positive for HIV antibodies was from 20 to 59 years. CONCLUSION: The results show a great increase in HIV seroprevalence in TB patients in Korle-Bu. The high HIV seroprevalence suggests that subjects suspected of TB should be tested for HIV as well.