السيرة الذاتية
Amani Ahmed Alghamedi
مختصر السيرة الذاتية
I am a lecturer in the Biochemistry Department at King Saud University since 2007. I have a
general interest in Neurochemistry with a particular interest in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, especially in the formation of the amyloid fibrils and the aggregation of the unfolded protein. Neurology problems are common in my country, and there is a need to understand the causes and explore therapies. In addition to my personal interests, my country needs to have a stronger research base comprised of qualified workers who can build on what is already in place.
I completed a BSc in biochemistry at King’s College London in 2004, graduated with an MSc in Molecular Life Science Research at the same university in 2006 and awarded my PhD in July 2015. During my BSc and MSc studies, I was involved in several research-based modules, and my interest in biomedical research developed as a result. Because I spent several months in a research laboratory, my experience in the MSc programme made me realize how much I enjoyed research. Since graduation, I have been with the Department of Biochemistry at King Saud University, working as lecturer, developing experience in presenting bioscience materials and teaching students. My degrees from KCL and my experience in a teaching environment provided me with the necessary qualifications to pursue a higher degree in medical biosciences. I secured a state grant for a full-time MPhil/PhD study in the UK. My PhD programme gave me extensive experience in different techniques such as ELISA, Westen Blot and Immunohistochemistry. I also performed cell culture work, measuring the enzyme-like activity using synthetic peptide substrate and tissue homogenization and by measuring the protein content. I also had the opportunity to give demonstrations in the undergraduate biochemistry laboratory. I attended some courses in statistics and SPSS. I learned how to present data using SPSS, GraphPad Prism and Excel and how to manage my references with EndNote.
I joined the Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases at King’s College London in October 2010. I started my PhD by reading extensively about dementia and exploring a database with more than 200 cases of Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and also some control cases from which we had tissue samples.
Lewy body dementia is the second most common neurodegenerative dementia and is pathologically characterized by α-synuclein positive cytoplasmic inclusions, with varying amounts of amyloid-β (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated tau (tau) aggregates, in addition to synaptic loss. A dysfunctional ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS), the major proteolytic pathway responsible for the clearance of short lived proteins, may be a mediating factor of disease progression and of the development of α-synuclein aggregates. My study determined the protein expression of component subunits of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). Furthermore, I analysed the main proteolytic-like (chymotrypsin- and PGPH-) activities. The middle frontal (Brodmann, BA9), inferior parietal (BA40) and anterior cingulate (BA24) gyrus’ cortex were selected as regions of interest from PDD (n=31), DLB (n=44), AD (n=16) and control (n=24) brains. Clinical and pathological data available included the MMSE score, and semi-quantitative scores for AD pathology (Aβ and tau) and for α-synuclein (Lewy bodies). My study found that DLB, PDD and AD were characterized by significant reductions of one of the main components of the proteasome (RPT6) in prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex compared with controls. In addition, strong associations were observed between RPT6 levels in prefrontal, parietal cortex and anterior cingulate gyrus and cognitive impairment. These findings highlight the involvement of the UPS in LBD and indicate that targeting the UPS may have the potential to slow down or reduce the progression of cognitive impairment in DLB and PDD.
general interest in Neurochemistry with a particular interest in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, especially in the formation of the amyloid fibrils and the aggregation of the unfolded protein. Neurology problems are common in my country, and there is a need to understand the causes and explore therapies. In addition to my personal interests, my country needs to have a stronger research base comprised of qualified workers who can build on what is already in place.
I completed a BSc in biochemistry at King’s College London in 2004, graduated with an MSc in Molecular Life Science Research at the same university in 2006 and awarded my PhD in July 2015. During my BSc and MSc studies, I was involved in several research-based modules, and my interest in biomedical research developed as a result. Because I spent several months in a research laboratory, my experience in the MSc programme made me realize how much I enjoyed research. Since graduation, I have been with the Department of Biochemistry at King Saud University, working as lecturer, developing experience in presenting bioscience materials and teaching students. My degrees from KCL and my experience in a teaching environment provided me with the necessary qualifications to pursue a higher degree in medical biosciences. I secured a state grant for a full-time MPhil/PhD study in the UK. My PhD programme gave me extensive experience in different techniques such as ELISA, Westen Blot and Immunohistochemistry. I also performed cell culture work, measuring the enzyme-like activity using synthetic peptide substrate and tissue homogenization and by measuring the protein content. I also had the opportunity to give demonstrations in the undergraduate biochemistry laboratory. I attended some courses in statistics and SPSS. I learned how to present data using SPSS, GraphPad Prism and Excel and how to manage my references with EndNote.
I joined the Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases at King’s College London in October 2010. I started my PhD by reading extensively about dementia and exploring a database with more than 200 cases of Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and also some control cases from which we had tissue samples.
Lewy body dementia is the second most common neurodegenerative dementia and is pathologically characterized by α-synuclein positive cytoplasmic inclusions, with varying amounts of amyloid-β (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated tau (tau) aggregates, in addition to synaptic loss. A dysfunctional ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS), the major proteolytic pathway responsible for the clearance of short lived proteins, may be a mediating factor of disease progression and of the development of α-synuclein aggregates. My study determined the protein expression of component subunits of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). Furthermore, I analysed the main proteolytic-like (chymotrypsin- and PGPH-) activities. The middle frontal (Brodmann, BA9), inferior parietal (BA40) and anterior cingulate (BA24) gyrus’ cortex were selected as regions of interest from PDD (n=31), DLB (n=44), AD (n=16) and control (n=24) brains. Clinical and pathological data available included the MMSE score, and semi-quantitative scores for AD pathology (Aβ and tau) and for α-synuclein (Lewy bodies). My study found that DLB, PDD and AD were characterized by significant reductions of one of the main components of the proteasome (RPT6) in prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex compared with controls. In addition, strong associations were observed between RPT6 levels in prefrontal, parietal cortex and anterior cingulate gyrus and cognitive impairment. These findings highlight the involvement of the UPS in LBD and indicate that targeting the UPS may have the potential to slow down or reduce the progression of cognitive impairment in DLB and PDD.
نص السيرة الذاتية
Amani Ahmed Alghamdi
- 279, college of science, Biochemistry department, King Saud University
- Tel: 0118056811 Email: aalghamedi@ksu.edu.sa
Employment:
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Associate Professor 2022–present
Biochemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Assistant Vice Dean for Technical Affairs 2020–2021
College of science (Girls’ Section), Center for Science and Medical Studies for Girls, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Department Deputy 2016–2020
Biochemistry Department (Girls’ Section), Center for Science and Medical Studies for Girls, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Assistant Professor 2016–2022
Biochemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Education:
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Doctor of Philosophy (Neuroscience) 2010–2015
Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, Kings College London, London, UK - Title of my PhD thesis: Ubiquitin proteasome system impairment and its relationships to cognitive and non-cognitive symptoms, pathology and synaptic dysfunction, in the Lewy body dementias.
- Demonstrated undergraduate students during the first two years of my PhD
Master of Science (Molecular Life Science Research 2004–2006 Department of Biomedical and Health Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK
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Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry) 2000–2004
Department of Biochemistry, School of Health and Life Science, King’s College London, London, UK
Research Interests:
- I have a general interest in Neuroscience topics with a particular interest in dementia, asI am also interested in developing my understanding in the mechanisms behind the pathology and the causes which leads to dementia.
Master’s thesis supervisor
- Main supervisor: Afnan Salamah Albanaqi, Metabolic and Inflammatory Responses to Recent COVID19 Exposure
- Main supervisor: Reema Naji Khalid Al-Subaiee, Analysis of medulloblastoma progression in PINK1 knockout cell lines
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Main supervisor: Awjad Awad Monea Almotari, Investigating a diagnostic factor SMARCA5 in breast cancer
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Main supervisor: Maram Hamad Ali Alshuwaymi, Identification of a molecular biomarker for the early prediction of breast and ovarian cancers in cancer-free BRCA1-methylated carriers
- Main supervisor: Nouf Nasser Abduallah AlGhunaim, Association of apolipoprotein E and clusterin gene polymorphisms with the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in Saudi subjects
- Main supervisor: Ebtesam Yahya Qasem, RAS, TERT promoter and BRAF mutations in poorly differentiated thyroid cancer
- Main supervisor: Noura Saad Nasser Alshuil, In vitro screening for the anticancer properties of different extracts of Qaisum Achillea fragrantissima
- Main supervisor: Wadha Aldossary, The effects of point mutation (P.Gly61Glu) in the CYP1B1 gene on optic nerves which may cause glaucoma
- Co-supervisor: Hind Muidh Mben Alharthi, Clinical significance of serum NLRP3 levels and associated cytokines in Saudi patients with metabolic syndrome
- Co-supervisor: Albatul Yousef Abdullah Alshwei, Serum tristetraprolin levels in Saudi patients with or without metabolic syndrome and its association with the insulin resistance index and adiponectin
- Co-supervisor: Dalal Zaid Nukhilan Alhawti, The association between perilipin 3 and type 2 diabetes mellitus
- Co-supervisor: Hind Alfadul, The association between essential minerals with concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D among Saudi patients
- Co-supervisor: Reem Almutiry, The association between the IL-6 and TNF-a gene polymorphism of IL-6 and TNF-a and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in Saudi subjects
Committee Memberships
- Graduates, Public Relations and Community Service Committee 2023-present
- Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Student affairs committee 2020- present
- Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Student’s affairs Committee 2022-present
- College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- ISO committee 2022–present
- Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Non-Saudi faculty evaluation committee 2020–present College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Study Schedules committee 2020–present Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Student affairs committee 2020–present Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Student’s Rights Committee 2019–present College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Final Examination Committee 2015–2020 College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Graduates, Public Relations and Community Service Committee 2019–2020 Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- PhD Committee 2019–2020 Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Postgraduate Student Committee 2016–2020 Biochemistry Department,, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Teaching Load Committee 2015–2020 Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Demonstrators Committee 2015- 2019 Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Promotion and Appointments Committee 2015-2019 Biochemistry Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Postgraduate Student Committee 2016-2018 College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Board of Directors Center for Scientific and Medical Studies Research 2016–2018 Center for Science and Medical Studies for Girls, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Computing Skills:
- Word processing (Microsoft Word)
- Spreadsheets (Microsoft Excel)
- Presentation (Microsoft PowerPoint)
- Information and communication (email and internet)
- Statistics & Mathematics (SPSS and GraphPad Prism)
- Bibliography and Manuscript (EndNote)
Teaching Skills:
- I have been working at King’s Saud University in Riyadh as a lecturer in biochemistry, in addition to communicating and dealing with students problems which they face during their academic year.
- Demonstrate practicals for undergraduate students during my PhD study at King's college London.
Technical Biochemistry Skills:
- Western blot
- Immunohistochemistry
- ELISA
- enzymatic assays.
Publication:
- Role of NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation in Obesity-Mediated Metabolic Disorders. Kaiser Wani, Hind AlHarthi, Amani Alghamdi, Shaun Sabico and Nasser M. Al-Daghri. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 Jan 10;18(2): E511)
- The effects of melatonin and vitamin D3 on the gene expression of BCl-2 and BAX in MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Abir A. Alamro. Manal M. Al-Malky. Mohammed G. A. Ansari, Osama E. Amer, Abdullah M. Alnaami, Syed D. Hussain, Tlili A. Barhoumi, Amani A. Alghamdi, Samina H. Haq, Shaun Sabico and Nasser M.Al-Daghri. Journal of King Saud University – Science Volume 33, Issue 2, March 2021, 101287
- The loss of microglia activities facilitates glaucoma progression in association with CYP1B1 gene mutation (p.Gly61Glu). Amani Alghamdi, Wadha Aldossary, Sarah Albahkali, Batoul Alotaibi and Bahauddeen M. Alrfaei. PLoS ONE: (2020) 15 (11)
- CYP1B1 gene: Implications in glaucoma and cancer. Arwa Alsubait, Wadha Aldossary, Mamoon Rashid, Amani Alghamdi and Bahauddeen M. Alrfaei. Journal of Cancer, 2020; 11(16): 4652-4661. doi: 10.7150/jca.42669
- Effect of Vitamin D Treatment on VDR Expression in Primary Cerebral Cortical Cells in Induced Oxidative Stress. Alsulami Ebtesam, Alokail Majel, Alghamedi Amani, Alamro Abir, Haq Samina. Journal of Cellular Biotechnology, vol. Pre-press, pp. 1-10, 2020
- Therapeutic potential of vitamin D and curcumin in-vitro model of Alzheimer’s disease. Alamro Abir, Alsulami Ebtesam, Almutlaq Moudi, Amani Alghamdi, Alokail Majed and Haq Samina. Journal of Central Nervous System Disease, 2020; 12: 1-8
- Nasser M. Al-Daghri, Shaun Sabico, Hazim Al-Hazmi, Amal M. Alenad, Abeer Al-Amro, Amani Alghamdi, Syed Danish Hussain, George Chrousos and Majed S. Alokail. Circulating spexin levels are influenced by the presence or absence of gestational diabetes. Cytokine, January 2019; 13: 291–295.
- Nasser M. Al-Daghri, Hazim A. Al-Hazmi, Abdulrahman Al-Ajlan, Mohammad S. Masouda, Abeer Al-Amro, Amani Al-Ghamdi, Abdullah M. Alnaami, Omar S. Al-Attas and Majed S. Alokail. Associations of spexin and cardiometabolic parameters among women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 2018; 25(4): 710–714
- Chapter in book: Samina Hyder Haq, Iqraa Haq, Atheer Ali Alsayah, Abir Alamro and Amani Alghamdi (2018) Epigenetics and Cartilage Regeneration.
- Tibor Hortobagyi, Amani Alghamdi, Julie Vallortigara, David Whitfield, David R. Howlett, Martin Broadstock, Clive Ballard, Johannes Attems, Dag Aarsland and Paul T. Francis. Relationship between pathology scores, clinical data and expression levels of proteasome sub-units in Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementias. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 2017; 13(7): 333–334.
- Alghamdi, A., Vallortigara, J., Howlett, D. R., Broadstock, M., Hortobágyi, T., Ballard, C., Thomas, A. J., O'Brien, J. T., Aarsland, D., Attems, J., Francis, P. T. and Whitfield, D. R. Reduction of RPT6/S8 (a proteasome component) and proteasome activity in the cortex is associated with cognitive impairment in Lewy body dementia. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 21 Mar 2017; 57(2): 373–386.
- Whitfield, D. R., Vallortigara, J., Alghamdi, A., Hortobagyi, T., Ballard, C., Thomas, A. J., O'Brien, J. T., Aarsland, D. & Francis, P. T. 2014. Depression and Synaptic Zinc Regulation in Alzheimer Disease, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, and Parkinson Disease Dementia.The American journal of geriatric psychiatry.
- Whitfield, D. R., Vallortigara, J., Alghamdi, A., Howlett, D., Hortobagyi, T., Johnson, M., Attems, J., Newhouse, S., Ballard, C., Thomas, A. J., O'Brien, J. T., Aarsland, D. & Francis, P. T. 2014. Assessment of ZnT3 and PSD95 protein levels in Lewy body dementias and Alzheimer's disease: association with cognitive impairment. Neurobiol Aging.
- Vallortigara, J., Rangarajan, S., Whitfield, D. R., Alghamdi, A., Howlett, D., Hortobagyi, T., JOHNSON, M., Attems, J., Ballard, C., Thomas, A. J., O'Brien, J. T., Aarsland, D. & Francis, P. T. 2014. Dynamin1 concentration in the prefrontal cortex is associated with cognitive impairment in Lewy body dementia. F1000Research, 3, 1-9.
- Julie Vallortigara, David R. Whitfield, Amani Alghamdi, William Quelch, SindhooRangarajan, Mary Johnson, David Howlett, TiborHortobágyi, Johannes Attems, Clive Ballard, Alan J. Thomas, John T O’Brien, Dag Aarsland and Paul T Francis. Decreased Levels of VAMP2 and Monomeric Alpha-Synuclein Correlate with Duration of Dementia. J Alzheimers Dis. 2015 Nov 30
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Conferences and poster presentation:
- Alzheimer's Research UK (ARUK), Leeds 2011. Impairment of the proteasome in frontal cortex in Lewy body dementias. Julie Vallortigara, Francis E. Warren, Clive G. Ballard, Frank G. Boess, Dag Aarsland, Marie-Therese Targett, AmaniAlghamdi& Paul T. Francis.
- [[AAICAD: International Conference on Alzheimer's disease (ICAD), Paris, 16-21 July 2011. Impairment of the proteasome in prefrontal cortex in Lewy body dementias. Julie Vallortigara, AmaniAlghamdi, Francis E. Warren, Clive G. Ballard, TiborHortobágyi, Johannes Attems, Dag Aarsland, Frank G. Boess, Marie-Therese Targett& Paul T. Francis.
- ARUK: Alzheimer's Research UK conference, Birmingham, 27-28 March 2012. Effect of proteasome and p62 protein impairment on frontal cortex and anterior cingulate in Lewy body dementias AmaniAlghamdi, TiborHortobágyi, Clive G. Ballard, Johannes Attems, John O’Brien, Dag Aarsland& Paul T. Francis
- AAICAD: Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) 2012 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, July 14-19, 2012. Proteasome and p62 protein impairment on frontal cortex and anterior cingulate in Lewy body dementias AmaniAlghamdi, TiborHortobágyi, Clive G. Ballard, Johannes Attems, John O'Brien, Dag Aarsland& Paul T. Francis
- ESN conference: 5th conference on Advances in molecular mechanisms underlying neurological disorders, Bath, 23-26 June. Reduction of Rpt6/S8 (a Proteasome component) is associated with cognitive decline in LBD & AD. AmaniAlghamdi, TiborHortobágyi , Clive G. Ballard, David Howlett, Dag Aarsland, John O'Brien, Johannes Attems, Paul T Francis
- Attending many training courses on the Researcher Development Programme at King’s college London.