Science Sub-Journal: Making "Universal Blood Type" Organs

Dr.

Blood type is determined by the presence or absence of antigens on the surface of red blood cells - type A blood has A antigens, type B blood has B antigens, type AB blood has antigens, and type O blood does not

Likewise, antigens A and B are present on the surface of human blood vessels, including those of solid organs

Aizhou Wang, Ph.

This translates into mortality

She added that the difference is also present in other organs, with patients with type O or B needing a kidney transplant waiting an average of 4 to 5 years on the waiting list, compared with 2 to 3 years for type A or AB

"If you convert all organs to Universal O, you can completely remove that barrier

This proof-of-concept study was performed in Dr.

Human donor lungs unsuitable for type A donor transplantation were placed in the EVLP circuit

The team then tested each lung by adding type O blood (containing high concentrations of anti-A antibodies) to the pathway to simulate an ABO-incompatible transplant

Gut enzymes key to creating universal organs

"Through an interdisciplinary and national exchange of ideas, we are working together to address an important issue in organ transplantation," Dr.

In 2018, UBC biochemist Stephen Withers, Ph.

"Enzymes are Mother Nature's catalysts, and they carry out specific reactions

"In this experiment, this opens the door to creating a universal blood group organ," explains Dr.

"This has been a great collaboration with UHN, and I was amazed to learn about the in vitro perfusion system and its impact on transplantation

As a next step, the research team is drafting a proposal for a clinical trial within the next 12 to 18 months
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