Blood type conversion method

[Der_Trihs]

I haven’t noticed this posted; a method has been developed that converts some other blood types into O negative, the universal donor type. The medical uses are obvious.

The technique potentially enables blood from groups A, B and AB to be converted into group O negative, which can be safely transplanted into any patient.

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The new technique works by using bacterial enzymes to cut sugar molecules from the surface of red blood cells.

After a search of 2,500 fungi and bacteria the researchers discovered two bacteria - Elizabethkingia meningosepticum and Bacterioides fragilis - which contained potentially useful enzymes.

They found that enzymes from both bacteria were able to remove both A and B antigens from red blood cells.

< snip >

The new process cannot do anything about another antigen that can trigger an immune response. Blood which carries this antigen is known as rhesus positive.

This means that only rhesus negative blood can be used to create the new type of group O supplies.

Too bad it can’t convert Rh positive into negative, but it’s still impressive, I think.

[Nava]

…

OK, that final conclussion is silly.

Doing the process on anything- blood would create O- blood. Doing it on anything+ blood would create O+ blood which, while not “universal donor”, is still acceptable to a lot more people than, say, AB+.

[Improv_Geek]

While this will definitely help with people with hard to match blood types, there is still an overall shortage of blood being given to the blood banks. I can’t donate again until June 21st, but I do it as frequently as I can.

– IG