Changing all blood types to Type-O possible

Canadian researchers at UBC are developing enzymes that can turn donated blood into something similar to the so-called ‘universal’ donor type ‘O’.

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.

To create this high-powered enzyme capable of snipping off sugars, researchers used a new technology called directed evolution that involves inserting mutations into the gene that codes for the enzyme, and selecting mutants that are more effective at cutting the antigens.

In just five generations, the enzyme became 170 times more effective. While the researchers were able to remove the wide majority of the antigens in Type-A and B blood, before it can be used in clinical settings, the enzyme used would need to remove all of the antigens.

The study was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

By Lizitha