Guthrie, Robert

The use of a biomarker for detecting metabolic disease began nearly 50 years ago when Robert Guthrie developed a bacterial inhibition assay to screen for... 

Koch J. Robert Guthrie-the PKU story crusade against mental retardation, vol. xv. Pasadena Hope Pub. House 1997. p. 190. 

NBS and the use of dried blood spot (DBS) began almost 50 years ago, when, in the early 1960s, Dr. Robert Guthrie developed a bacterial inhibition assay [1] for the measurement of phenylalanine (Phe). This biological assay utilized cultured bacteria that could only grow in the presence of Phe. This analysis was sufficiently sensitive to measure elevated concentrations of Phe from the DBS of newborns in the first 2-3 days of life. Although a somewhat imprecise assay, it was sufficiently accurate to reliably detect PKU, an inherited disorder of Phe metabolism. Untreated PKU results in profound mental retardation and possible institutionalization. Early and continued treatment by dietary intervention throughout life prevents mental retardation and substantially improves the health of affected individuals. 

From a purely clinical or analytical chemistry perspective, the most unique aspect of NBS is the DBS. This special purpose filter paper was originally developed by Dr. Robert Guthrie to collect blood from the heel of an infant. It was developed as part of a bacterial inhibition screening assay for PKU [15], The DBS is also known as the Guthrie card or the PKU card. It is prepared from... 

Evans, S.G., Guthrie, R.H., Roberts, N.J. Bishop, N.F. 2007. The disastrous 17 February 2006rockslide- bris avalanche on Leyte Island, Philippines a catastrophic landslide in tropical mountain terrain. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 7, 89-101. 

Gutl973 Guthrie, R.D., Jenkins, A.D. and Roberts, G.A.F., Synthesis of Oligosaccharides on Polymer Supports. II. Synthesis of )8-D-Gentiobiose Derivatives on Soluble Support Copolymers of Styrene and 6-0-(p-Vinylbenzoyl) or 6-0-(p-Vinylphenylsulfonyl) Derivatives of D-Glucopyranose, J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 1, (1973) 2414-2417. 

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