Enzymes open new path to universal donor blood

Enzymes open new path to universal donor blood
dtu.dk

"For the first time, the new enzyme cocktails not only remove the well-described A and B antigens, but also extended variants previously not recognized as problematic for transfusion safety. We are close to being able to produce universal blood from group B donors, while there is still work to be done to convert the more complex group A blood. Our focus is now to investigate in detail if there are additional obstacles and how we can improve our enzymes to reach the ultimate goal of universal blood production," says Professor Maher Abou Hachem, who is the study leader at DTU and one of the senior scientists behind the discovery.

The A/B/AB/O is basically having only A, only B, both, or neither. And the +/- is whether you have the "Rhesus" component.

The basic rule is that you can't introduce new components to a person who doesn't have them in their system, and will be treated as foreign contaminants.

So someone with all three components already (AB+) can take any blood because their system already is used to all three components.

A person with none of the components in their system (O-) would have an allergic reaction to any of the three components being introduced. On the other hand their blood is safe to donate to anyone else as it won't introduce any "unexpected components" to a recipient.

EDIT: ah, I see - article doesn't mention Rhesus. I guess it can convert AB- to O-, or AB+ to O+.

A is really AO (if we're being verbose). B is BO, AB is AB, O is OO. Each parent passes one of them on. So, a A dad and O mom would mix (being verbose again) AO and OO, and thus the child might be AO or OO, A or O.

The + or - is for an independent "Rhesus" component, as you say. Not sure how this passes through the genes. This is all like high school level knowledge, so maybe someone can share more if they want.

My dad had surgery and some paperwork we received said that he had AB blood. It became a family joke because me and my siblings are all O blood type. If my dad really did have AB blood then we are not his children. The hospital later confirmed it was a mistake.