Their investigations revealed that these antibodies are associated with several “Er” antigens on the surface of the blood, the particular varietals of which are determined by a protein called Piezo1. have now studied these antibodies better than ever before. Relying on samples of blood from 13 individuals collected over the years, a team of researchers from the University of Bristol and the National Health Service in the U.K. But additional blood samples with these antibodies were tough to find, making their systematic study much more difficult. These antibodies indicated that unidentified antigens (and therefore unidentified varieties of blood in a new system of classification) existed somewhere in the world, waiting to be described. Antibodies and AntigensĪround 40 years ago, scientists identified strange antibodies in samples of blood. This new system can assist doctors in correctly diagnosing and treating abnormal instances of incompatibility. This is certainly true of the so-called Er system. And though their misalignment is incredibly unusual - occurring only in individuals with unusual blood - the knowledge of these other classification systems can be crucial for protecting patients. The varieties of blood identified in other systems of classification must also properly align. While the vast majority of incompatibility issues are prevented simply by paying attention to the blood types within the ABO and the rhesus systems, problems can still arise. Read more: What Blood Type Has to Do With COVID-19 Risk

They're only avoided if transfusion patients receive the right kind of blood.

These battles are dangerous and potentially deadly. Therefore their immune systems could identify the transfused substance (and its unfamiliar antigens) as a threat and produce antibodies to fight it off. The differences between antigens mean that transfusion patients could be pumped with incompatible blood from incompatible donors. The need to consider these antigens is rare, though it's important during blood transfusions. Read more: What Blood Types Can Reveal About Our Health Operating at the same time as this system (and all others), the rhesus system assesses another type of antigen, “Rh.” An abundance of Rh describes rhesus positive blood, while a lack of Rh describes rhesus negative blood. At the same time, the presence of both designates the blood as AB, while the absence of both designates the blood as O.

In many of the 44 classification systems, these differences are what decides a person’s blood type.įor instance, within the ABO system, the presence of “A” antigens on the surface of red blood cells classifies a person’s blood as type A, whereas the presence of “B” antigens classifies a person’s blood as type B. And it begs the question, what is it that makes these systems so different and important to identify? Blood is Blood - or is it?Īlthough all people’s blood seems similar, scientists know that the assortment of proteins and sugars that coat the surface of the blood cells, also known as antigens, differ from person to person. It's called the Er system, according to an article in Blood.

Ab negative blood type origins