Canadian researchers have developed a way to transform all blood groups into a neutral type that can be given to any patient. We are familiar about our body immune system that it is highly sensitive to small change in the blood groups. 

The researchers from the Centre for Blood Research have identified an enzyme that could potentially pave the way for changing blood types. The enzyme works by snipping off the sugars, also known as antigens, found in Type A and Type B blood, making it more like Type O. Type-O blood group is commonly called as universal donor and can be given to all types of blood group patients. The researchers were able to remove the wide majority of the antigens in Type-A and B blood. 

“We produced a mutant enzyme that is very efficient at cutting off the sugars in A and B blood, and is much more proficient at removing the subtypes of the A-antigen that the parent enzyme struggles with,” said lead author of the study David Kwan from the University of British Columbia in Canada.

Scientists used a new technology called directed evolution to create this high powered enzyme. This technique involves inserting mutations into the gene that codes for the enzyme and selecting mutant that are more effective at cutting the antigens. Within 5 generations, the enzyme became 170 times more effective at removing A and B antigens. As the immune system is highly sensitive to even small amounts of residual antigens, the researchers say that the work is not that perfect to use in a clinical setting. 

The researchers have published the results of their research so far in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

By Lizitha