Dr. Samson P. Salifu

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Name:                                    Samson Pandam Salifu,                  

Qualifications:                       BSc. MSc. PhD.

Contact details;

Address: Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, KNUST, UPO, PMB, Kumasi, Ghana

 Telephone:             +233 (0) 209 583359 0r +233 (0) 549086608

 Email:  sspandam@knust.edu.gh or sspas@hotmail.com

Short profile

Samson Pandam Salifu holds BSc. in Medical Sciences, MSc. in Biomedical Science with distinction and PhD. in viral genomics. He is a faculty staff of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). Dr. Salifu has extensive experience in running and management of research and diagnostic laboratory facilities. He has a considerable experience in a range of molecular biology methods. Over years he has worked in molecular diagnosis of infectious pathogens, bioinformatics, proteomics, characterization of recombinant proteins as well as sequencing and comparative genomics of viral genomes.

Dr. Salifu is a Co-Chair of User-Support Working Group of the H3ABioNet (http://h3abionet.org/), which aims to help researchers interested in bioinformatics including genotyping, NGS, population genetics, data management and software development.

He has interest in development of cheap and rapid diagnostics to detect and to control drug resistant / serious pathogenic microbes in health sector. His current research focuses;

1. Genotyping and prevalence of HPV infection, cervical abnormalities and cancer in HIV-infected and non-infected women
2. Nation-wide Survey of TB drug resistance among tuberculosis patients in Ghana
3. Genotyping and prevalence of drug resistance hepatitis B virus
4. Sexually Transmitted infections
5. Molecular based surveillance of Rhodococcus equi infection among patients suspected of TB infection
6. Diversity of short tandem repeats  (STR) among Ghanaians and its application in forensic science
7. Assessment of fuel adulteration and development of novel tools for identification adulterants in petroleum products

Selected Peer-reviewed Publications

1. Mulder et al. (2016). H3ABioNet, a Sustainable Pan-African Bioinformatics Network for Human Heredity and Health in Africa. Genome Research, 271-277
2. Owusu-Dabo, E., Yar, D. D, Salifu, S. P., Darko, S. N., Annan, A. A., Gyimah, A. A., Buabeng, K. O. (2015). Genotypic characterization of HPV infections among persons living with HIV infection; a case control study in Kumasi, Ghana. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 21(2): 275–282
3. Darko, S.N., Yar, D. D., Owusu-Dabo, E., Awuah, A.A., Dapaah, W., Addofoh, N., Salifu, S. P., Awua-Boateng, N. Y. and Adomako-Boateng, F. (2015). Variations in levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in type 2 diabetes mellitus between rural and urban Ashanti Region of Ghana. BMC Endocrine Disorders,15:50
4. Baffour-Awuah, S., Owusu-Dabo, E., Kruppa, T., Annan, A., Nartey, R., Dogbe, J., Pandam S., Becker, N., Oppong, S., and Obiri-Danso, K. (2014). Lysinibacillus sphaericus biolarvicide. An efficacious tool in the control of Anophels gambiaein Kumasi, Ghana. East African Journal of Public Health, 11(4): 851-861
5. Annan, A.A., Owusu-Dabo, E., Baffour-Awuah, S., Nartey, R., Sarpong, N., Ayimbire, A.G., Salifu, P., Frank, A., Segbaya, S., Buabeng, K. O. (2014). Insecticide resistance in malaria vector mosquitoes at 5 selected districts I Ghana, West Africa. East African Journal of Public Health, 11(4): 830-842.
6. Salifu, S. P., Vallero-Rello, A., Casey, S. A. C., Inglis, N. F., Scortti, M., Foley, S. and Vazquez-Boland, J. (2013). Genome and Proteome analysis of phage E3 infecting the soil-borne actinomycete Rhodococcus equi. Environmental Microbiology Reports, 5(1):170-178.
7. Salifu, S. P., Casey, S. A. C, and Foley, S. (2013). Isolation and characterisation of soil-borne virulent bacteriophages infecting the pathogen Rhodococcus equi. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 114(6):1625-1633.
8. Pierce, K. J., Salifu, S. P., and Tangney, M. (2008). Gene cloning and characterization of a second alanine racemase from Bacillus subtilis encoded by yncD. FEMS Microbiology Letters 283: 69–74.
9. Salifu, S. P., Pierce, K. J., and Tangney, M. (2008). Gene cloning and characterization of two alanine racemase genes from Bacillus licheniformis. Annals of Microbiology 58 (2): 287-291.

 E.         Other Papers

1. Darko, S.N., Owusu-Dabo, E., Yar, D.D., Salifu, S.P., Gyimah, A.A., Annan, A.A., May, J., Horstmann, R. Characterization of HPV infections among persons living with HIV infection; a case control study in Kumasi, Ghana. 2015. Poster Presentation, Ghana Biomedical Convention.
2. Yar, D., Owusu-Dabo, E., Salifu, S.P., Awua-Boateng, N.Y., Sylverken, A. A, Addofoh, N., Amuasi, J. H., Agyarko-Poku, T. Bacterial vaginosis, miscarriage and preterm delivery among women attending a sexually transmitted infections clinic, Ghana. 2015. Poster Presentation, Ghana Biomedical Convention.
3. Amegashie, E. A., Owusu-Dabo, E., Salifu, S. P. and Awuah, A. A. (2014) Sero-prevalence and occupational risk factors for Brucella infection among slaughterehouse workers and butchers in Kumasi. GhanaBiomed 2014, pp50
4. Awua-Boateng, N. Y., Yar, D. D., Salifu, S. P., Meyer, C. and Owusu-Dabo, E. (2014) The prevalence and clinical significance of sexually transmitted infections at the suntreso government hospital Kumasi metropolis. GhanaBiomed 2014, pp56
5. Darko, S. N., Yar, D.D., Owusu-Dabo, E., Salifu, S. P., Adomako-Boateng, F., Dapaah, W., Awua-Boateng, N. Y. and Laing, E. (2014) Variations in IL-6 and TNF-A levels associated with Type-2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension in rural and urban settings. GhanaBiomed 2014, pp64
6. Salifu, S. P., Campbell and Foley, S. (2014) Superbug and antibiotics war: teaming with my enemy’s enemies to fight our enemy. GhanaBiomed 2014, pp143
7. Amegashie, A. E., Owusu-Dabo, E., Salifu, S. P., Afum-Adjei, A. A., Baffour-Awuah, S., Addofoh, N., Annan, A.A. and Winter, C. (2013). Sero-prevalence and occupational risk factors of Brucella infection among slaughterhouse workers and butchers in Kumasi, Ghana. In 5^th Annual Scientific Conference, KNUST, Kumasi, November 14-15,2013, p. 41-42.
8. Annan, A. A., Owusu-Dabo, E., Salifu, S.P., Baffour-Awuah, S., Nartey, R., Nimako, S., Amoyaw, F., Segbaya, S., and Ohene Buabeng, K. (2013). Insecticide resistance in malaria vector mosquitoes at five selected districts in Ghana, West Africa. In 5^th Annual Scientific Conference, KNUST, Kumasi, November 14-15,2013, p. 67
9. Baffour-Awuah, S., Owusu-Dabo, E., Kruppa, T., Annan, A.A., Nartey, R., Dobge, J., Salifu, S.P., Becker, N., Oppong, S. and Obiri-Danso, K. (2013). Lysinibacillus sphaericus biolarvicide, an efficacious tool in the control of Anopheles gambiaein Kumasi, Ghana. In 5^th Annual Scientific Conference, KNUST, Kumasi, November 14-15,2013, p. 68-69
10. Salifu, S. P., Vallero-Rello, A., Casey, S. A. C., Inglis, N. F., Vazquez-Boland, J. And  Foley, S. (2011). Comparative genomics of the Myoviridae bacteriophages of Rhodococcus equi and Mycobacterium. A paper presented at Phages2011, Oxford, UK.
11. Salifu, S. P., Campbell, S., and Foley, S. (2010). Diversity amongst bacteriophages infecting Rhodococcus equi. A paper presented at The Bacteriophage in Biology, Biotechnology and Medicine   BioPark Hertfordshire, Broadwater Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire AL7 3AX, UK.
12. Salifu, S. P., Campbell, S., and Foley, S. (2010). The beauty of relationship – analyses of the genomes and diversity of bacteriophages infecting Rhodococcus equi. A paper presented at Edinburgh Napier University postgraduate conference.Salifu, S. P., Campbell, S., and Foley, S. (2010). Diversity of bacteriophages infecting Rhodococcus equi isolated from garden and agricultural soil. A paper presented at Viruses of Microbes Conference, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
13. Salifu, S. P., Campbell, S., and Foley, S. (2010). Diversity of bacteriophages infecting Rhodococcus equi isolated from garden and agricultural soil. A paper presented at Society of Applied Microbiology Summer Conference 2010, Brighton, UK