Dr. Joseph Humphrey Kofi Bonney PhD, MSc, BSc

Dr Joseph Humphrey Kofi Bonney is a Senior Research Fellow at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana.

He has won numerous grants, honors, and awards to participate in, carry out particular research projects/investigations, or indeed to be given global acknowledgement and recognition for his work. Amongst which include:

• Being the Co-Investigator on “Preventing emergence and spill-over of bat viruses in high-risk global hotspots”. From the Montana State University – US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). 2019 – 2021

• Being the Principal Investigator on “Arboviral Viral Infections of Public Health Importance”. Made Possible by the University of Ghana Research Grant. 2016 – 2018

• Being the Principal Investigator on the “Molecular Epidemiology of Dengue Fever and Chikungunya Viruses in Ghana”. From the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED). 2015 – 2020

• Being the Coordinator on Work Package 2 “Preparedness against Ebola and other emerging infectious diseases in Sierra Leone and Guinea”. From the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Accra. 2015 – 2017

• Being the Co-Principal Investigator on “Assessing the effectiveness of the revised International Health Regulations (2005) at mitigating the emergence and spread of newly emerging infectious diseases in African settings”. From the UK government (DfID & NERC) through University of Cambridge, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Cambridge UK, and the Institute of Zoology, Regent’s Park, London UK, and partly by a European Commission FP7 grant to the Institute of Zoology and the University of Cambridge. 2014 – 2016

Dr Bonney has supervised and co-supervised numerous Undergraduate and Postgraduate Level Thesis at the University of Ghana where he is a lecturer at the Undergraduate level for the Schools of Nursing, Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences; College of Health Sciences. At the Postgraduate level, he is a lecturer at the:

• Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Department, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences. Where he co-teaches a 3-credit course on Infection and Immunity – Virology Part for level 600 students.

• Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology Department. Where he co-teaches a 3-credit course on Bacteria and Viral Infections also for level 600 students.

Amongst others, he is a member of the following societies and groups:

1. Society for General, Microbiology (SGM) – UK

2. American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

3. The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene – UK

4. American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

5. Member, ECOWAS Regional Rapid Response Team (ERRRT) on Pandemic and Emerging Infectious Diseases (2016 to date).

6. Member, African Unit of European Mobile Laboratory Operations for Outbreak Response (from June 2019)

7. Member, National Technical Coordinating Council (NTCC) on Pandemic and Emerging Infectious Diseases (2008 to date).

8. Member, National Ebola Preparedness and Response team – Surveillance Sub-Committee (2014 to date)

9. Member of the team that drafted the National Viral Hepatitis Prevention and Control Policy August 2014

10. Team supervisor: National Influenza Centre- Ghana, NMIMR / Ghana Health Service / WHO (since 2007).

11. Member of the team that drafted the Action Plan on Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza for the Republic of Ghana from May to September 2007

He has been invited to and attended over forty (40) prestigious national and international conferences and workshops where he often plays key roles, presented papers, posters, and research findings, etc. The most recent of which include:

• West Africa Foundational Biorisk Management Training organized by Sandia National Laboratories for US Défense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). Dakar, Senegal from 10th to 14th February, 2020.

• American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 68th Annual Meeting. Attended and presented a poster on “Molecular detection of Dengue fever virus in patients suspected of Ebola virus in Ghana”. Maryland, LA, USA from the 20th to 24th November 2019.

• 11th European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health. Where he presented a poster on “Molecular detection of Dengue fever virus in patients suspected of Ebola virus in Ghana”. Held in Liverpool, United Kingdom from the 16th to 20th September 2019.

• 1st West African Sub-Regional Workshop on Mobile Laboratory Operations for Outbreak Response. A practical workshop on how to operate and use the European Mobile Laboratories in outbreak settings. Held at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua Nigeria from 24th to 28th June 2019

He has several published research work in referred Journals including:

1. Bonney JH, Osei-Kwasi M, Adiku T, Barnor JS, Amesiya R, et al. Towards effective Disease Control in Ghana: Research and Policy Implications. Koram KA, A CK, Wilson MD, Yeboah-Manu D, Bosompem KM, editors. Legon-Accra: Sub-Saharan Publishers; 2014. Chapter 19, Investigations of Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Infections in Ghana; p.250 - 261.

2. Amoa-Bosompem M, Kobayashi D, Murota K, Nur Faizah , Itokawa K, Fujita R, Nyarko Osei H, Agbosu E, Pratt , Kimura , Kwofie KD, Ohashi M, Bonney JH, Dadzie S, Sasaki T, Ohta N, Isawa H, Sawabe K, Iwanaga S. Entomological Assessment of the Status and Risk of Mosquito-borne Arboviral Transmission in Ghana. Viruses. 2020 January; 12(2):147.

3. Kwofie SK, Broni E, Teye J, Quansah E, Issah I, Wilson M, Miller W, Tiburu E, Bonney JH. Pharmacoinformatics-based identification of potential bioactive compounds against Ebola virus protein VP24. Computers in Biology and Medicine Journal. 2019 October; 113.

4. Kubi JA, Mutocheluh M, Bonney JHK, Ampofo WK, Odoom JK. Molecular detection of enterovirus D68 among children with acute respiratory tract infection in Ghana. Afr J Lab Med. 2019; 8(1), a732.

5. Manu SK, Bonney JHK, Pratt D, Abdulai FN, Agbosu EE, Osei-Frimpong P, Adiku TK. Arbovirus circulation among febrile patients at the greater Accra Regional Hospital, Ghana. BMC Research Notes, June 2019; 12:332

6. Ankrah G, Bonney JHK, Pratt D, Abdulai FN, Agbosu EE, Osei-Frimpong P, Adiku TK. Serological evidence of Zika virus infection in febrile patients at Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Accra Ghana. BMC Research Notes, June 2019; 12:326

7. Nimo-Paintsil SC, Fichet-Calvet E, Borremans B, Letizia AG, Mohareb E, Bonney JHK, Obiri-Danso K, et. al. Rodent-borne infections in rural Ghanaian farming communities. PLoS One. 2019;14(4):e0215224. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215224. eCollection 2019. PubMed PMID: 31017931; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6481813.

8. Bonney JHK, Hayashi T, Dadzie S, Agbosu E, Pratt D, Nyarko S, Asiedu-Bekoe F, Ido E, Sarkodie B, Ohta N, Yamaoka S. Molecular detection of dengue virus in patients suspected of Ebola virus disease in Ghana. PLoS One. December 19, 2018;13(12):e0208907. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0208907. eCollection 2018. PubMed PMID: 30566466.

9. Owusu M, Bonney JHK, Annan AA, et al. Aetiology of viral hepatitis among jaundiced patients presenting to a tertiary hospital in Ghana. PLoS ONE, September 2018; 13(9): e0203699.

10. Amoako N, Duodu S, Dennis FE, Bonney J, Asante KP, Ameh J, Mosi L, Hayashi T, Agbosu EE, Pratt D, Operario DJ, Fields B, Liu J, Houpt ER, Armah GE, Stoler J, Awandare GA. Detection of Dengue Virus among Children with Suspected Malaria, Accra, Ghana. Emerging infectious diseases. August 2018; 24(8), 1544-1547.

11. Adjei EF, Adiku TK, Mawuli G, Bonney JHK. Molecular investigations of viral meningitis among HIV-infected adults in Accra, Ghana. BMC Research Notes. 2018 August 28; 11:615.

12. Addo KK, Ampofo WK, Owusu R, Bonsu C, Naomi N, Mensah GI, Addo SO, Bonney JHK, et. al. First Nationwide Survey of the prevalence of TB/HIV Co-Infection in Ghana. Journal of Tuberculosis Research. 2018 June 14; 6, 135-147.

13. Ofosu-Appiah LH, Kutame R, Ayensu B, Bonney JHK, et. al. Detection of Dengue Virus in Samples from Suspected Yellow Fever Cases in Ghana. Microbiology Research Journal International. 2018 May 22; 24(1): 1 - 10.

14. Gabriel M, Adomeh D, Ehimuan J, Ovakhilome J, Omomoh M, IghodaloY, Olokor T, Bonney K, et al. Development and evaluation of antibody-capture immunoassays for detection of Lassa virus nucleoprotein-specific immunoglobulin M and G. PLOS Neglected Trop. Diseases. March 2018

15. Whitmer S, Strecker T, Cadar D, Dienes HP, Faber K, Patel K, Brown S, Davis W, Klena JD, Rollin PE, Schmidt-Chanasit J, Fichet-Calvet E, Noack B, Emmerich P, Rieger T, Wolff S, Fehling SK, Eickmann M, Mengel JP, Schultze T, Hain T, Ampofo W, Bonney JHK, et al. New Lineage of Lassa Virus, Togo, 2016. Emerg. Infect. Dis. J, Vol 24. No. 3. March 2018.

16. Adjabeng M, Ansah E, Ntiri M, Sarkodie B, Asiedu-Bekoe F, Dzotsi E, Ohene S, Bonney JHK and Ampofo W. Associated Signs and Symptoms of Confirmed Influenza Infections in Ghana. International Journal of Tropical Disease & Health. January 2018

17. Koroma B, Suluku R, Oskam L, Koram K, Bonney K, Ampofo W. Evolution of zoonotic and EVD responses in Sierra Leone – Laboratory capacity strengthening at Njala University. J Environ Res., Vol:1 No. 1:2. November 2017.

18. Awini E, Bonney JHK, Frimpong JA, Ampofo W and Koram K. Information gaps in surveillance data and effects on the Ghanaian response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Ghana Med J 2017; 51(3): 115-119

19. Kobayashi D, Ohashi M, Osei J, Agbosu E, Agbekudzi A, Joannides J, Fujita R, Sasaki T, Opoku, Bonney JHK, et al. Detection of a novel putative phlebovirus and first isolation of Dugbe virus from ticks in Accra, Ghana. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Journal. April 2017.

20. Bonney JH, Nyarko EO, Ohene S, Amankwa J, Ametepi RK, et al. Molecular confirmation of Lassa fever imported into Ghana. African Journal of Laboratory Medicine. 2016 April 25; 5(No 1):6 pages.

21. Ofosu-Appiah LH, Bonney JH, Adiku T, Barnor J, Odoom JK. Serological and Molecular Evidence of Hepatitis E Infection among Patients with Suspected Viral Hepatitis Seen at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra. Journal of Scientific Research & Reports. 2016 January 04; 10:1-10.

22. Tuffour J, Owusu-Mireku E, Ruf MT, Aboagye S, Kpeli G, Akuoku V, Pereko J, Paintsil A, Bonney K, Ampofo W, Pluschke G, Yeboah-Manu D. Challenges Associated with Management of Buruli Ulcer/Human Immunodeficiency Virus Coinfection in a Treatment Center in Ghana: A Case Series Study. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2015 Aug;93(2):216-23. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.14-0571. Epub 2015 Jun 8. PubMed PMID: 26055745; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4530737.

23. Kyei NN, Abilba MM, Kwawu FK, Agbenohevi PG, Bonney JH, Agbemaple TK, Nimo-Paintsil SC, Ampofo W, Ohene SA, Nyarko EO. Imported Lassa fever: a report of 2 cases in Ghana. BMC Infect Dis. 2015 May 29; 15:217. doi: 10.1186/s12879-015-0956-2. PubMed PMID: 26022703; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4448534.

24. Hori T, Barnor J, Huu TN, Morinaga O, Hamano A, Ndzinu J, Frimpong A, Minta-Asare K, Amoa-Bosompem M, Brandful J, Odoom J, Bonney J, Tuffour I, Owusu BA, Ofosuhene M, Atchoglo P, Sakyiamah M, Adegle R, Appiah-Opong R, Ampofo W, Koram K, Nyarko A, Okine L, Edoh D, Appiah A, Uto T, Yoshinaka Y, Uota S, Shoyama Y, Yamaoka S. Procyanidin trimer C1 derived from Theobroma cacao reactivates latent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 provirus. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2015 Apr 3;459(2):288-93. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.02.102. Epub 2015 Feb 26. Erratum in: Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2015 Jun 12;461(4):702. PubMed PMID: 25727021.

25. Stoler J, Delimini RK, Bonney JH, Oduro AR, Owusu-Agyei S, Fobil JN, Awandare GA. Evidence of recent dengue exposure among malaria parasite-positive children in three urban centers in Ghana. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2015 Mar;92(3):497-500. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.14-0678. Epub 2015 Jan 12. PubMed PMID: 25582693; PubMed 7Central PMCID: PMC4350537.

26. Agbenohevi PG, Odoom JK, Bel-Nono S, Nyarko EO, Alhassan M, Rodgers D, Danso F, Suu-Ire RD, Bonney JH, Aboagye J, Kronmann KC, Duplessis C, Oyofo BA, Ampofo WK. Biosecurity measures to reduce influenza infections in military barracks in Ghana. BMC Res Notes. 2015 Jan 23; 8:14. doi: 10.1186/s13104-014-0956-0. PubMed PMID: 25612659; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4316646.

27. Barnor JS, Yamamoto N, Brandful JA, Ampofo W, Bonney JH, et al. Establishment of In-House Quantitative Real-Time RT-PCR Assay for HIV-1 Viral Load Measurement: Application to Evaluate Efficacy of ART in Ghanaian Patients in an Urban Setting. Journal of AIDS & Clinical Research. 2014 May 05; 5:305.

28. Kronmann KC, Nimo-Paintsil S, Guirguis F, Kronmann LC, Bonney JH, Obiri-Danso K, Ampofo W, Fichet-Calvet E. Two novel arenaviruses detected in pygmy mice, Ghana. Emerg Infect Dis. 2013 Nov;19(11):1832-5. doi: 10.3201/eid1911.121491. PubMed PMID: 24188212; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3837667.

29. Bonney JH, Osei-Kwasi M, Adiku TK, Barnor JS, Amesiya R, Kubio C, Ahadzie L, Olschläger S, Lelke M, Becker-Ziaja B, Pahlmann M, Günther S. Hospital-based surveillance for viral hemorrhagic fevers and hepatitides in Ghana. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2013 Sep 19;7(9):e2435. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002435. eCollection 2013. PubMed PMID: 24069490; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3777898.

30. Bonney JH, Kronmann KC, Lindan CP, Asante IA, Parbie P, Aboagye J, Amankwah J, Odoom JK, Adjabeng M, Nzussouo NT, Ahadzie L, Barthel RV, Cornelius C, Amofah G, Oyofo B, Ampofo WK. Virological surveillance of influenza-like illness among children in Ghana, 2008-2010. J Infect Dis. 2012 Dec 15;206 Suppl 1:S108-13. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jis577. PubMed PMID: 23169955.

31. Odoom JK, Bel-Nono S, Rodgers D, Agbenohevi PG, Dafeamekpor CK, Sowa RM, Danso F, Tettey R, Suu-Ire R, Bonney JH, Asante IA, Aboagye J, Abana CZ, Frimpong JA, Kronmann KC, Oyofo BA, Ampofo WK. Troop education and avian influenza surveillance in military barracks in Ghana, 2011. BMC Public Health. 2012 Nov 8; 12:957. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-957. PubMed PMID: 23137234; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3534292.

32. Bonney JH, Kwame-Aryee RA, Obed S, Tamatey AA, Barnor JS, Armah NB, Oppong SA, Osei-Kwesi M. Fatal hepatitis E viral infection in pregnant women in Ghana: a case series. BMC Res Notes. 2012 Sep 3;5:478. doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-5-478. PubMed PMID: 22937872; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3504539.

33. Williams RA, Vázquez A, Asante I, Bonney JH, Odoom S, et al. Yaoundé-like virus in resident wild bird, Ghana. African Journal of Microbiology Research. 2012 March 09; 6(9):1966-1969.

34. Dzotsi EK, Ohene S, Asiedu-Bekoe F, Amankwa J, Sarkodie B, Adjabeng M, Thouphique AM, Ofei A, Oduro J, Attitogo D, Bonney JH, Paintsil SCN, Ampofo W. The first cases of Lassa fever infection in Ghana. Ghana Medical Journal. 2012; 43(3):166-170.

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