Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Health

Gut Bacteria Found to Produce ABO-Universal Blood Enzymes

Akkermansia muciniphila, a gut symbiont, has been found to possess exoglycosidases that target extended blood group antigens to produce ABO-universal blood, according to a recent study published in Nature Microbiology. Matching blood groups between donors and recipients based on red blood cell surface ABO glycans and plasma antibodies is critical to prevent adverse reactions during transfusions. Enzymatically converting RBC glycans to the universal group O offers a promising solution to streamline blood logistics and reduce the risk of ABO-mismatched transfusions.

The research involved the biochemical evaluation of 23 Akkermansia glycosyl hydrolases to identify specific exoglycosidase combinations capable of efficiently converting both A and B antigens, along with four carbohydrate extensions. By enzymatically removing canonical and extended ABO antigens on RBCs, the compatibility with group O plasmas was significantly enhanced compared to the conversion of A or B antigens alone. Additionally, structural analyses of two enzymes responsible for converting B antigens unveiled a previously unknown carbohydrate-binding module.

This study highlights the potential of mucin-degrading gut bacteria, such as Akkermansia muciniphila, as valuable sources of enzymes for the production of universal blood for transfusions. The findings offer insights into leveraging microbial enzymatic pathways to simplify blood group matching and enhance transfusion safety.

LEAVE A RESPONSE

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *