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Prof. Suzanne Ahmad Al-Bustan

Profile Picture
Phone
24987130
Public Email
s.albustan@ku.edu.kw
Office Location
Building SCI-S, Area A1, Floor 04, Office 094
College/ Center
College of Science
Professor

Suzanne A. Al-Bustan obtained her B.Sc degree in Zoology in 1988 and was awarded a KU scholarship to pursue her PhD degree in Medical Genetics which she was awarded in 1992 from Glasgow University, Scotland, UK. The main focus of her thesis was to investigate gene-environment interaction through biochemical genetic studies of a neurodegenerative disorder “Wernicke-Korsakoff’s Syndrome”. She then joined the Department of Zoology at the Faculty of Science in Kuwait University in 1993 as a Genetic and Biology Lecturer and in 1997, she was appointed in the Molecular Biology Program of the amalgamated Department of Biological Sciences. She is currently a Professor of Human and Molecular Genetics involved in teaching advanced molecular genetics courses (both undergraduate and graduate). She has published numerous papers in reputed journals and has been active in both scientific research and supervision of several graduate students in the areas of human genetics and molecular biology focusing on the genetic makeup of the Kuwaiti Population and association studies with complex traits including metabolic disorders. Her research facilitated the establishment of a human DNA banks representative of the Kuwaiti population. Her main research interests are in the genetic association of candidate genes with dyslipidemia and its associated metabolic disorders. The methods applied include re-sequencing of Apolipoprotein genes and LPL, involved in the lipid transport and metabolism, in order to identify genetic variants that may increase the risk to develop dyslipidemia. Currently she is establishing another research path to investigate the functional importance of intronic variants that have been implicated in association with metabolic disorders. She is also involved in collaborative research with other Academic staff from the Department of Biological Sciences and the Faculty of Medicine. She has assumed several administrative responsibilities including the Director of the Molecular Biology graduate program and Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences. She is currently the Acting Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, Research and Graduate studies (2021-2025).

Degrees and Certificates

Ph.D in Medical Genetics-Glasgow University, Scotland, U.K., 1992

B.Sc in Zoology - Kuwait University, 1988

Key Responsibilities

1.  Lecturer in the Molecular Biology Program - Undergraduate Courses taught regularly: Genetics, Molecular Basis of Human Diseases, Biology I; Graduate Courses: Molecular Biology Techniques, Scientific Writing and Communication Skills

2. Research and Graduate Supervision - Genetic Association Research, Thesis and project supervision for students enrolled in the Joint M.Sc in Molecular Biology, M.Sc Biotechnolog and M.Sc in Forensic Sciences

3. Administrative duties

 

Professional Experience
  1. Acting Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, Research and Graduate Studies (2021-2024)
  2. Department of Biological Sciences Chair (2017-2021)
  3. M.Sc in Molecular Biology Program Director (2013-2017)
  4. Lecturer - since 1992

  5. Convener and member of several departmental, college and university committees (since 1992)

     

 

Research Interests

Genetic Association of metabolic disorders, molecular mechanisms using animal models, functional analysis of intronic variants

List of research activity can be accessed through:

  1. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1260-4632
  2. Scopus Author ID: 6505819506 
  3. Web of Science Researcher ID: AGO-3551-2022
  4. Google Scholar Profile: Suzanne Al-Bustan
Academic Subjects

Genetics, Molecular Basis of Human Diseases, Biology

Publications

  1. Nasmah K. Bastaki, Taybha A. Albarjes, Afnan K. Mohamed, Noorhan H. Sabri and Suzanne A. Al-Bustan. 2024. A Set of Proximal Regulatory Elements Contribute to the Transcriptional Activity of the Human Lipoprotein Lipase Promoter. Current Issues in Molecular Biology, 46(11), 13209-13222 (https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46110788)

  2. Ahmad Al-Serri, Hessa A Al-Janahi, Mohammad H Jamal, Dana AlTarrah, Ali H Ziyab, Suzanne A Al-Bustan. 2024. Influence of the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Gene Polymorphism on Weight Loss Following Intragastric Balloon Intervention: A Cross-Sectional Study. Diabetes Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity, (DOI: 10.2147/DMSO.S481547) 

  3. Nada Abdelhafez, Amani Aladsani, Lateefa Alkharafi and Suzanne A. Al-Bustan*. 2024.  Association of selected gene variants with nonsyndromic orofacial clefts in Kuwait. Gene (Wiley), 934(6):149028 (DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.149028)
  4. Amani M. Al-Adsani *, Sahar A. Barhoush, Manal S. Abbood, Khaled K. Al-Qattan and Suzanne A. Al-Bustan. 2024.  Garlic Extract Promotes Pancreatic Islet Neogenesis Through α-to-β-Cell Transdifferentiation and Normalizes Glucose Homeostasis in Diabetic Rats. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.202400362)

  5. Alkharafi L., Alhasawi S., Burezq H., Alduraie A., Alhuwais M., Aldoub F., Alduwaisan M., Aldoseri S., Hamdan H., Abdelhafez N., Mokhtar A., Alqatami F., Al-Serri A., Hartsfield J. and Al-Bustan S. 2024. Genetic Associations of Oral Clefts in Arabs. The Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal.0(0). (https://doi:10.1177/10556656231219433)

  6. Al-Bustan, S.A.*, Alrashid, M.H.; Al-Serri, A.E., Annice, B.G. and Bahbahani, H.M. 2023. Sequence Variant Analysis of the APOCII Locus among an Arab Cohort. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24, 16293. (https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242216293)

  7. Hussain Bahbahani *, Sanaa Al-Zoubi, Fatima Ali, Arwa Afana, Mohammed Dashti, Abdulaziz Al-Ateeqi, David Wragg, Suzanne Al-Bustan and Faisal Almathen. 2023. Signatures of purifying selection and site-specific positive selection on the mitochondrial DNA of dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius). Mitochondrion 69, Pages 36-42 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mito.2023.01.004)

  8. Barhoush, S.A., Alrashid, M.H., Hussain, R.F. and Al-Bustan S.A*. 2023 (Accepted 2021). Sequence Analysis of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) Promoter, 5'UTR and Exon1 and Association of rs361525 (-238G>A) with BMI. Kuwait Science Journal (DOI: https://doi.org/10.48129/kjs.13771)

  9. Amani M. Al-Adsani *, Anoud N. Al-Otaibi, Sahar A. Barhoush, Khaled K. Al-Qattan and Suzanne A. Al-Bustan. 2022.  Expression Profiling of Pdx1, Ngn3, and MafA in the Liver and Pancreas of Recovering Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats. Genes 13, 1625. (DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13091625).
  10. Amani M. Al-Adsani *, Sahar A. Barhoush, Nasmah K. Bastaki, Suzanne A. Al-Bustan and Khaled K. Al-Qattan. 2022. Comparing and Optimizing 2022. RNA Extraction from the Pancreas of Diabetic and Healthy Rats for Gene Expression Analyses. Genes 13, 881. (DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13050881).
  11. Al-Shammeri R., Al-Serri A., Barhoush and Al-Bustan S.A*. 2022. Identification and Characterization of Variants in Intron 6 of the LPL Gene Locus among a Sample of the Kuwaiti Population. Genes, 13(4), 664 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13040664).

  12. Malek S.H, Al-Serri A. and Al-Bustan S.A*. 2021. Genetic association of LPL rs326 with BMI among the Kuwaiti Population. Cardiovascular Endocrinology and Metabolism. (DOI: 10.1097/XCE.0000000000000254).

  13. Alrashid M.H., Al-Serri A., Alshemmari S.H., Geo J.A. Al-Bustan S.A. 2021. Association analysis of genetic variants in the ghrelin and tumor necrosis factor α genes and the risk for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Kuwaitis. Cancer Biomarkers (DOI: 10.3233/CBM-20037). 

  14. Al-Serri A., Al-Bustan S.A., Al-Sabah S.K., Annice B.G., Alnaqeeb M.A., Mojiminiyi, O.A. 2021. Association between the lipoprotein lipase rs1534649 gene polymorphism in intron one with Body Mass Index and High Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 28(8): 4717–4722 (DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.04.085) 

  15. AlDehaini, D. M., Al-Bustan, S.A, Malalla, Z.A., Ali, M.E., Sater, M., and Giha, H.A. 2020. The influence of TERC, TERT and ACYP2 genes polymorphisms on plasma telomerase concentration, telomeres length and T2DM. Gene. 13;766:145127 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2020.145127).

  16. AlDehaini, D. M., Al-Bustan, S.A, Ali, M.E., Malalla, Z.A., Sater, M., and Giha, H.A. 2020. Analogous telomeres shortening and different metabolic profile: hypertension versus hypertension/type 2 diabetes mellitus comorbidity. Cardiovascular Endocrinology & Metabolism.(doi: 10.1097/XCE.0000000000000232). 

  17. AlDehaini, D. M., Al-Bustan, S.A, Ali, M.E., Malalla, Z.A., Sater, M., and Giha, H.A. 2020. Shortening of the leucocytes’ telomeres length in T2DM independent of age and telomerase activity. Acta Diabetologica. 57(11):1287-1295 (DOI: 10.1007/s00592-020-01550-4). 

  18. Malalla, Z.H., Al-Serri, A.E., AlAskar, H.M., Alkandari W and Al-Bustan S.A*. 2019. Sequence analysis and variant identification at the APOC3 gene locus indicates association of rs5218 with BMI in a sample of Kuwaiti’s. Lipids in Health and Disease. 18, 224. (DOI:10.1186/s12944-019-1165-6). 

  19. Al-Bustan S A*, Al-Serri A, Alnaqeeb M, Annice M and Mojiminiyi O.   2019. Genetic association of LPL rs1121923 and rs258 with plasma TG and VLDL levels. Scientific Reports. 9:5572 (DOI: 10.1038/s41598019-42021-3).  

  20. Jasim A., Al-Bustan S.A.*, Al-Kandari W., Al-Serri A., and Al-Askar H.  2018. Sequence Analysis of APOA5 Among the Kuwaiti Population Identifies Association of rs2072560, rs2266788, and rs662799 with TG and VLDL Levels. Frontiers Genetics. 9:112. (DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00112)   

  21. Al-Bustan S.A.*, Al-Serri A., Annice B., Alnaqeeb M., Al-Kandari W. and Dashti M.  2018. A novel LPL intronic variant: g.18704C>A identified by re-sequencing Kuwaiti Arab samples is associated with highdensity lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride lipid levels. PLOS One.  13 (2) (DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.019261) 

  22. Al-Serri A.E., Al-Bustan S.A., Kamkar M., Thomas D., Al-Smaidi O., Al-Temaimi R., Mojiminiyi O., and Abdella N.  2017. Association of FTO rs9939609 with Obesity in the Kuwaiti Population: A Public Health Concern?  Medical Principles and Practice. (DOI: 10.1159/000486767). 

  23. Yang X., Al-Bustan S.A., Feng Q., Guo W., Ma Z., Marafie M., Jacob S., and Al-Mulla F.  2014. The Influence of Admixture and Consanguinity on Population Genetic Diversity in Middle East.  Journal of Human Genetics.DOI:10.1038/jhg.2014.81 pp1-8. 

  24. Al-Bustan S.A.*, Ismael F., Al-Serri A. and Al- Rashdan I.  2017. Increased risk of the APOB rs11279109 polymorphism for CHD among the Kuwaiti population.  Disease Markers.  vol. 2017, Article ID 6963437, 8 pages (doi:10.1155/2017/6963437). 

  25. Alrashid M.H., Al-Serri A., Alshemmari S.H., Koshi P., Al-Bustan S.A. 2016. Association of genetic polymorphisms in the VKORC1 and CYP2C9 genes with warfarin dosage in a group of Kuwaiti individuals.  Molecular Diagnosis & Therapy 20 (1): DOI 10.1007/s40291-016-0190-7 

  26. Al-Serri A.E., Ismael F., Al-Bustan S.A., and Al-Rashdan I.  2015. The I allele of the common ACE I/D gene polymorphism is associated with T2DM Among Kuwaiti CVD Patient.  Journal of the Renin-AngiotensinAldosterone System. (DOI:10.1177/1470320315610255). 

  27. Al-Kandari, W., Alnaqeeb, M., Isaac, A and Al-Bustan, S., 2015. Molecular characterization of Stictodora tridactyla (Trematoda: Heterophyidae) from Kuwait Bay using rDNA ITS and mtCO1. Journal of Parasitology Research 14(11):4259-66. (DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4665-y). 

  28. Al-Bustan S.A., Alnaqeeb M.A., Annice B.G., Ebrahim G.A. and Refai T.M.  2014. Genetic association of APOB polymorphisms with variation in serum lipid profile among the Kuwait population.  BMC Lipids in Health and Disease 13:157 (DOI: 10.1186/1476-511X-13-157). 

  29. Al-Bustan S.A., Al-Serri A.E., Annice B.G., Alnaqeeb M.A. and Ebrahim G.A.  2013. Re-sequencing of the APOAI promoter region and the genetic association of the -75G > A polymorphism with increased cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels among a sample of the Kuwaiti population.  BMC Medical Genetics 14:90 (DOI: 10.1186/10.1186/1471-2350-14-90). 

  30. Al-Kandari, W., Al-Bustan, S., Alnaqeeb, M. and Isaac, A. 2013. PCR-based molecular discrimination between Maritrema eroliae and Probolocoryphe uca (Digenea: Microphallidae) in Kuwait Bay. Journal of Helminthology. 88:177-182. (DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X12000892). 

  31. Theyab J., Al-Bustan S.A. and Crawford M.H. 2012. The genetic structure of the Kuwaiti population: mtDNA Inter- and Intra-population variation. Human Biology 84(4):379-403. 

  32. Al-Kandari W., Al-Bustan S.A., Isaac A.M., George B.A. and Chandy B.S. 2012. Molecular Identification of Austrobilharzia species parasitizing Cerithidea cingulata (Gastropoda: Potamididae) from Kuwait Bay. Journal of Helminthology 86:470-478. 

  33. Al-Kandari W., Al-Bustan S.A. and Alnaqeeb M. 2011. Ribosomal DNA sequence characterization of Maritrema CF. eroliae Yamaguti, 1939 (Digenea: Microphallidae) and its life cycle. Journal of Parasitology Research97(6):1067-1074. 

  34. Al-Kandari W. and Al-Bustan S.A. 2010. Molecular identification of Probolocoryphe uca (Sarkisian, 1957) (Digenea: Microphallidae) from Kuwait Bay using ITS1 and ITS2 sequences. Parasitology Research 106:1189-1195. 

  35. Al-Bustan S.*, Alkhalaf M., Al-Rashdan I., Al-Otaibi S., Al-Baker E., Balding D. and Alnaqeeb M. A. 2009. Apolipoprotien E, CI and B Gene Polymorphisms in a Sample of Patients with Coronary Heart Disease in the Kuwaiti Population.  Medical Principles and Practices 18(4):294-299. 

  36. Alkhalaf M., Al-Bustan S., Hamoda H. and Abdella N. 2007. Polymorphism of p53 codon 72 in Kuwaiti with coronary artery disease and diabetes. International Journal of Cardiology.  115:1-6. 

  37. Al-Bustan, S.A.*, Alnaqeeb M.A., Annice G.B., Ibrhim G., Al-Rubaian J., Ahmed A. and Refai T.M. 2005. Apolipoprotien E Genotyping among the Healthy Kuwaiti Population. Human Biology. 77(4): 487-498. 

  38. Alnaqeeb M.A., Al-Bustan, S.A. and Murad N.Y. 2004. Effect of urban and industrial expansion on the biodiversity of two desert animal species in Kuwait. Kuwait Journal of Science and Engineering. 31(1):1632. 

  39. Al-Adsani A.M., El-Zawahri M.M., Al-Bustan S.A., Bang R.L. and Khalef I. 2003. Cytogenetic studies on cleft lip with or without cleft palate in Kuwait. The Eygptian Journal of Medical Human Genetics. 4(1):35-44. 

  40. Al-Bustan, S.A.*, El-Zawahri M.M., Al-Adsani A.M, Bang R.L., Ghunaim I., Maher B.S., Weinberg S. and Marazita M.L. 2002. Epidemiological and genetic study of 121 cases of oral clefts in Kuwait. Orthodontics and Craniofacial Research. 5:154-160.

  41. Al-Bustan, S.A., El-Zawahri M.M., Al-Azmi D. and Al-Bashir A. 2002. Allele frequencies and molecular genotyping of ABO blood group system in a Kuwaiti population. International Journal of Hemotology. 75:147-153. 

  42. Al-Bustan, S.A., Alnaqeeb M.A., Murad N.Y. and Al-Alawi A.F. 2001. Genetic variation of inbred laboratory rats by RAPD-PCR. Kuwait Journal of Science and Engineering. 28:393-402.

  43. Luqmani Y.A.; Mathew M.; Temmim L.; and Al-Bustan S.A. 1997. Separation of microsatellite fragments on small precast polyacrylamide gels and visualization by sliver staining.  Analytical Biochemistry, 253: 130132.