Enzymes that convert different blood groups into first group are discovered

European biologists have discovered that the Akkermansia muciniphila bacteria, which are present in the human microflora, produce enzymes that can be used in order to convert any form of blood into universal blood of the first group.

The scientists' respective conclusions were published in an article in scientific journal Nature Microbiology.

Every year, donors around the world donate more than 118 million standard units of all types of blood. Using these enzymes to convert donor blood into universal type 1 blood will greatly simplify logistics and reduce the chance of blood of the wrong type entering the patient's body during surgery or other medical procedures, the study said.

The discovery was made by a group of European biologists, led by Professor Maher Abou Hachem of the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), studying the enzymes of the Akkermansia muciniphila bacterium living in the human digestive system. These microbes have the ability to break down the main component of mucus in the digestive organs, which is similar in structure to the antigens that determine the human blood group.

This characteristic of these bacteria led scientists to the idea that the enzymes of these bacteria could be used in order to convert donor blood samples of second, third, and fourth types into blood of the first type, cleaning them of antigens. Guided by this idea, the scientists isolated the genes responsible for the production of 23 different forms of the mucin-degrading enzyme glycoside hydrolase, and monitored its effects on blood antigens A and B.

These experiments showed that a set of six glycoside hydrolases produced by the Akkermansia muciniphila cells is able to destroy almost all known and unknown subtypes of A and B antigens, and completely clear donor blood samples of these molecules. The entire process takes about 30 minutes and does not require heating of the processed biomaterial, which distinguishes this set of microbial enzymes from other blood transformation methods.

Scientists hope that the use of this combination of Akkermansia muciniphila enzymes for the collection of donor blood and its preparation for transfusion will enable all physicians in the world to considerably simplify logistics, as well as reduce the need to collect universal donor blood of the first group, the number and amount of whose sources are naturally limited. .

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