LONDON,
April 2 (Xinhua) -- Scientists have developed a simple method of converting
blood from one group to another, which could potentially mean the end of blood
shortages and boost supplies of sought-after group O negative blood.
O negative blood is known as "universal" because it
can be given to anyone in a blood transfusion.
In research published in the latest issue of the
journal Nature Biotechnology, an international team of researchers said they
successfully converted blood from groups A, B or AB to group O.
People in groups A and B have blood containing one of
two different sugar molecules which can trigger an immune response. Those in
group O have neither of these "antigens", while those in group AB have both.
The scientists, led by Professor Henrik Clausen of
the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, used bacterial enzymes as biological
"scissors" to cut sugar molecules from the surface of red blood cells.
They started by screening 2,500 types of fungi and
bacteria looking for useful proteins. Two bacteria, Elizabethkingia
meningosepticum, and Bacteroides fragilis, yielded enzymes capable of removing
both A and B antigens from red blood cells.
Researchers then verified the enzymes in standard
laboratory tests. After an hour's exposure to the appropriate enzyme, the
antigens vanished from 200 millilitre samples of A, B and AB blood.
"Clinical translation of this approach may allow
improvement of the blood supply and enhancement of patient safety in transfusion
medicine." said researchers.
Clinical trials will be conducted before group O
blood produced by the conversion method can be used in hospitals.
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