Microbial enzymes cut a path towards universal blood for transfusions

A Scandinavian collaboration has taken another step towards generating universal blood that is suitable for everyone receiving a transfusion or an organ transplant with the use of microbial enzymes. The enzymes come from a bacterium that feeds on mucus in the gut and can prune the A and B antigens from red blood cells.

Blood types in humans are partly the result of the ABO gene coming in two forms, with the A gene producing one enzyme (N-acetylgalactosaminyl-transferase) and B another (α-galactosyltransferase). These enzymes add the A- and B-specific sugars to the glycolipids and glycoproteins on red blood cells. Those with O-type blood have neither enzyme and can donate blood and organs to all ABO blood groups.