All Blood Converted to Type O? 206
UnanimousCoward writes "The BBC is reporting that scientists claim to have discovered a technique to convert all blood into Type O with the discovery of an enzyme that can strip the A and B antigens. This has implications to transform the stored blood supply into transfusable blood for all. It does not address the RH negative issue, however."
Re:Synthetic Blood (Score:5, Interesting)
As the father of a type O son with hemophilia this is awesome news. Opens up a much wider source of blood should the worst happen, especially since my wife and I are neither type O, and my father in law, while type O is also hemophilic.
-nB
Re:Synthetic Blood (Score:5, Interesting)
In labs, there are several growth mediums made from cow blood (remove the red blood cells as well as several other factors). They can't be properly synthesized because of how complex it is, and that's even after the most complex stuff is removed.
It's not suprising at all that we can't synthesize it, but it's nice that we can "produce" type O from other types.
Re:Synthetic Blood (Score:5, Interesting)
I got that from junior high biology. Actual issues are more complicated when you get in deep, of course. One oddball is that you can usually survive 1 non-matching transfusion, even if it's incompatible. After that your immune system is 'primed', much like for a vaccination, and will attack a second transfusion with extreme prejudice, likely resulting in your death.
And we are testing at least one blood substitute. The last one I read about(sorry, dead tree article), was intended for use in ambulances, which can't normally carry blood. Unfortuantly, it actually performed worse than saline IV's when it came to patient survival.
As for simply cloning a blood supply, it's difficult because you'd have to clone marrow, as blood cells no longer have a nucleous. Not insurmountable at this point, but currently unable to compete with donated blood.
Re:Synthetic Blood (Score:3, Interesting)
One problem with the synthetic blood is that it wasn't as efficient at oxygen transfer as real blood, and ISTR there were some issues with the body's ability to excrete it (either it didn't do it well, so the stuff stayed in your bloodstream until it was removed, or the body found it extremely easy to filter out, so it didn't stay around long).
In the Meantime (Score:5, Interesting)
So, in the meantime, everyone who is able should at least consider donating blood. It is fast, easy, and (nearly) painless. Many may object to the exclusion [wikipedia.org] criteria [participate.net] used by the Red Cross and other organizations, but the overwhelming majority of eligible donors simply do not give [givelife2.org]. Chances are good that, at some point in your life, you too will need a blood transfusion [givelife2.org].
Find a blood drive [givelife.org] near you.
What about allergy to the enzyme? (Score:5, Interesting)
Which brings up the issue of whether the body would develop an immunity to the enzyme, potentially producing a fatal anaphylactic reaction upon a future transfusion.
On the other hand, if the enzyme remains in the serum rather than attaching to the red cells the reaction would not produce the fatal clumping. Meanwhile the allergy to the enzyme, even if severe, could be handled by other drugs...
Which would also suppress the immune system somewhat - in a hospital "superbug" environment. So artificial type-O will likely remain an emergency measure, and type-O donors will remain in demand.
...And if the enzymes get into an A/B/AB person? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:In the Meantime (Score:5, Interesting)
BTW - does anyone know if there is a publically availble (and layman-readable) list of medications which would cause your blood to be rejected? I usually try to schedule when I've not been taking anything for at least 2 weeks, but as one grows older the periods of time when I'm (a) available and (b) haven't taken a single medication for 2 weeks or more prior are starting to occur with lower frequency.
It's not that I mind going, but if I'm going to spend an hour and a half of my time, I'd rather not have some techician decide later that my bag goes in the trash 'cause I had heartburn last week.
Re:What about allergy to the enzyme? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Synthetic Blood (Score:3, Interesting)
Oxygenated perfluorocarbons. For those interested in seeing it in action, watch The Abyss. The scene with the rat being submerged in the stuff was not a special effect.
Re:A couple of answers... (Score:3, Interesting)
You're not far off!
In the US, the FDA establishes minimal eligibility criterea. Most health adults who are in reasonably good health (e.g. within 20% of their ideal body weight) are eligible to donate. Deferrals exist for viral hepatits, HIV, behaviour which places one at risk for HIV (e.g. exchanging money or drugs for sex), and some travel (e.g. an extended trip to rural South America gets a one year delay for possible risk of malaria).
Only a few medications defer one from donating; unfortunately, any active infection or medication for infection is a reason to delay donation as there is a chance that the infection could be transmitted by blood transfusion.
Your local blood center should be willing to help you with specific eligibility questions.
I hope that was clear, if not, do let me know!
Teidou
Re:Synthetic Blood (Score:1, Interesting)
Not if the incompatibility is of the ABO variety. For some odd reason, we develop powerful antibodies to the blood group antigens we lack in the ABO system, e.g. a Group A person will develop anti-B, Group B develops anti-A and Group O develops both anti-A and anti-B, all without prior exposure. The nature of these naturally occurring antibodies is such that a transfusion of incompatible blood will immediately result in a haemolytic transfusion reaction, three words you don't want the doctors whispering around you...
There is no anti-O antibodies because the A and B proteins are derived from the O protein, so A and B people also have O on their red cells.
(OK, there is the rare Bombay blood group but if I mention that, people will start making "Calling Dr Bombay" jokes.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hh_antigen_system [wikipedia.org]