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Bertha Isabelle Barker

American bacteriologist (1868–1963) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bertha Isabelle Barker
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Bertha Isabelle Barker (January 6, 1868; November 19, 1963) was a resident fellow and scholar in bacteriology at the Rockefeller Institute for medical research under Eugene L. Opie.[1] Barker contributed to numerous papers on the study of enzymes in blood cells. Barker and Opie demonstrated for the first time the presence of a protein digesting enzyme in the epithelioid cells which formed in tuberculous tissue.[2]

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Bertha I. Barker
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Bertha Isabelle Barker was in born in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1876 to Alexander Augustus Barker and Lydia Jane Hutchins who moved from Maine.[3][4]

In 1892, Barker graduated from Wellesley College with a bachelor of science.[5] Subsequently, Barker worked as a high school teacher for about a decade. She began her studies at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in bacteriology. Barker was among one of the earliest women to study at the university.[6][7]

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Bertha Barker in Eugene Opie's lab.
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Rockefeller Institute of Medical Research Lab Staff (Barker dressed in white).

During the founding of Rockefeller Institute, Barker was hired as a resident fellow and scholar under Eugene L. Opie in 1906. She worked in this position until 1910.[1] Barker was collegues with Hideyo Noguchi and the director Simon Flexner. In 1908, Barker was one of five women at the institute alongside Martha Wollstein.[8]

Barker and Opie had been studying enzymes in blood cells which demonstrated the presence of protein digesting enzyme in the epithelioid cells that form tuberculous tissue. During her research, the enzyme exhibited the significant activity when caseation of the tubercle begins, and reportedly, disappears when caseation is completed.[2]

During her career, Barker has submitted numerous reports to the Journal of Experimental Medicine.[2]

Later Barker returned to Massachusetts and worked as a nurse and superintendent of Mount Auburn hospital.[9] Her funeral was held on November 19, 1963. She was buried in Mount Auburn cemetery.[10]

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