Scientists solve a 50-year puzzle by discovering a new blood type.
NHS researchers have solved a 50-year-old conundrum by discovering a new blood group system, which might save thousands of lives worldwide.
The MAL blood group was discovered by the study team, which was assisted by the University of Bristol and directed by South Gloucestershire experts from NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT).
After this groundbreaking test was created, they were able to determine the genetic origin of the previously recognized AnWj blood group antigen, which was found in 1972 but remained unknown until recently.
Louise Tilley, a senior research scientist at NHSBT, stated that the discovery opens the door to provide uncommon patients with improved care.
After 20 years of effort on the initiative, Ms. Tilley told the media that it is "quite difficult to a put a number" on the amount of people who will help from the exam.
However, for roughly 400 individuals worldwide each year, the NHSBT is their last option. Antigens are proteins found outside of red blood cells that are present in all people, albeit some people may not have them.
The International Blood Group Reference Laboratory at NHSBT in Filton has created a test for the first time that uses genetic testing to detect patients who lack this antigen. The test will facilitate the identification of possible blood developers for this uncommon blood type and may even prove to be lifesaving for individuals who would reject a blood transfusion.
About 20 years ago, Philip Brown, the laboratory's employee, received a diagnosis of a particular type of leukemia. He received bone marrow transplants and blood transfusions; without them, he would not have survived. "Almost anything we can accomplish to make our red blood cells much more secure and more suitable to patients is an important step in the right guidance," he stated.
"Resolving the genetic causes for AnWj has been one of our greatest difficult tasks," stated Nicole Thornton, head of the laboratory.We are committed to make these discoveries for the benefit of rare people worldwide, even if it takes a lot of work to demonstrate that a gene does, in fact, encode a blood group antigen.
"Such tests can be added to the current genotype platforms." Currently, genotyping assays can be created to identify contributors and patients who are genetically AnWj-negative.
"First test in the globe"
It is "simple to overestimate the international significance" of NHSBT in Filton, according to our health correspondent Matthew Hill. "They have not only created the first test in history, but they also supply antibodies to other nations so they can do study.
"They are from reference laboratories in other nations who have previously performed a lot of research and have got to a stage where they have crossed the boundaries of what they can accomplish and then they send their specimens to NHSBT," he explained.
"Often if the labs can't fix it we have to do a lot additional research to potentially find another blood group or a blood group structure if its not simply fixable in our hands," Nicole Thornton, the lab head, said to him.And that's where the fascinating cases originate. In addition to the blood group system we recently published, we believe that some new work in the works will result in more antigens in the blood systems that are already in use."
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