The team at Guild BioSciences (GBS) consists of highly qualified, extensively educated scientists with experience in molecular biology and protein science, driven by a perpetual curiosity in the biosciences.

Augustine (Gus) DiNovo:

• B.S., Biology
  Bowling Green State University, 1988
• M.S., Marine Biology
  University of Charleston, 1993
• Ph.D., Molecular and Cellular Biology
  Medical University of South Carolina, 2001

Dr. DiNovo oversees all contract protein purification and proteomic analysis at GBS. Having practiced protein purification and analysis for over 10 years, he has gained proficiency in both chromatographic and electrophoretic protein analysis. During his dissertation work with the detoxification protein metallothionein at the Medical University of South Carolina, Dr. DiNovo developed significant expertise in two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) and a variety of chromatographic methods, including size-exclusion chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography, and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In addition, he acquired skills in preparative electrophoresis, capillary electrophoresis, SDS PAGE, and LC-MS and MALDI TOF MS. He further refined his expertise during his post-doctoral work, in which he identified targets of the virulence protein Exoenzyme S, produced by the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Upon joining Guild Associates, Inc, Dr. DiNovo conducted intensive research in 2DE optimization, which resulted in the development of a novel pre-fractionation procedure that significantly increases the resolution and sensitivity of standard 2DE analysis. Guild is currently in the process of developing the procedure for commercial production. You can view some examples of the exploratory experiments conducted at GBS related to protein methods by visiting the GBS experiments page.

In addition to his abilities in 2DE and protein chromatography, Dr. DiNovo is proficient at developing physiological and enzymatic assays. During his dissertation, Dr. DiNovo produced assays that assessed water and sediment toxicity using oyster gamete fertilization. In the course of his post-doctoral work, he devised assays that evaluated the activity of a peptidyl prolyl cis-trans isomerase and a protein-protein interaction assay. More recently at Guild, Dr. DiNovo formulated an assay to screen for mutants of an organophosphate hydrolase (OPH) as well as an acetylcholine esterase assay to confirm detoxification of OPH substrates. He has also worked on developing assays that use bacterial physiology to specifically identify water pollutants, while simultaneously evaluating cellular toxicity. Dr. DiNovo’s training provided him with the ecological background necessary for exploring research at various scales, from molecules to ecosystems, and to transition between scales without difficulty.

Dr. DiNovo is also an experienced marine biologist, having participated in extensive field-based fisheries research and managed marine husbandry facilities.

David A. Schofield: B.S. (Honors), Microbiology University of Aberdeen, 1990 Ph.D., Molecular Mycology University of Aberdeen, 1994 Dr. Schofield has extensive expertise in molecular microbiology. Beginning with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of Aberdeen, Dr. Schofield further honed his skills in the pursuit of a PhD in Molecular Mycology. Dr. Schofield’s postdoctoral work at the Medical University of South Carolina, consisted of studying the expression of a glutathione S-transferase gene during hormonal carcinogenesis and developing a novel bacteriophage-based strategy for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In addition, Dr. Schofield elucidated the virulence factors required for infection by the human pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. In the course of his academic career, he has published 17 research papers in scientific journals and 2 book chapters. Dr. Schofield joined Guild Associates, Inc. in October 2004. See the Guild BioScience Team Publications.

The GBS Team has expertise in the following technical areas:

Proteins Electrophoretic Methods SDS PAGE Two-Dimensional Electrophoresis (2DE) Capillary Electrophoresis Preparative Electrophoresis Unit (Biorad) Chromatographic Methods Size-Exclusion Chromatography Ion Exchange Chromatography Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography Reversed-Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) Affinity Chromatography Other Protein Methods UV/VIS Spectrophotometry Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Mass Spectrometry : Electrospray Triple Quadrapole (Sciex) Ion Trap (Finnigan) MS MALDI TOF MS Total Sulfhydryl Analysis Protein Precipitation Fractionation Temperature-Based Protein Fractionation Ultrafiltration/Concentration

Nucleic acids Total RNA Isolation Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) DNA Sequencing DNA/RNA Manipulation Cloning Transcriptional regulation Gene expression Reporter gene analysis Whole Organism Analysis Invertebrate and Vertebrate Dissection Invertebrate Primary Culture Development Morphometric Analysis Fish Assemblage and Identification Fish Bone and Muscle Morphological Analysis Fisheries Sample Collection Systems Bacterial Systems Fungal Systems Mammalian Systems Viral (bacteriophage) Systems

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Extended Technical Support:

Guild BioSciences (GBS) provides innovative proteomic and molecular biology services and research, with support from the staff at Guild Associates Inc’s main office, as required. Guild headquarters has an extensive research and technical staff that includes PhDs, engineers, and technicians with a range of expertise, including chemistry, electronics, mechanics, biomedical engineering, electro-chemical sensors, programming, and manufacturing.

For more information on GBS technical capabilities and equipment, visit the Facilities page. Visit www.guildassociates.com for information on the additional technical support available from Guild Associates, Inc.