The research team, led by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) scientists in South Gloucestershire and supported by the University of Bristol, found a blood group called MAL.

They identified the genetic background of the previously known AnWj blood group antigen, which was discovered in 1972 but unknown until now after this world-first test was developed.

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[–] DrWorm@lemmy.world 35 points 1 month ago (4 children)

So... I'm a dumbass. What's the benefit of the antigens or lack thereof? Are there types of diseases that are more prevalent with or without these things?

The article didn't really go into any details as to how or why this will result in saving lives. Just that they can test for it.

[–] QuarterSwede@lemmy.world 57 points 1 month ago

Give someone blood with antigens when they don’t have antigens and things go badly. Now they can test for non-antigen blood and ensure they give the correct blood and save their life.

[–] NaibofTabr@infosec.pub 18 points 1 month ago

Antigens are molecules that bind with antibodies - which is to say that they are things which trigger immune responses. In human blood, antigens are protein markers which are part of red blood cells.

Blood antigens are important because giving a patient blood which contains antigens that their antibodies react to will cause the immune system to attack the donor blood as if it were bacteria or another foreign invader. If you receive a liter of blood that your antibodies react to, your immune system will destroy the foreign blood (so you still need blood) and also your kidneys will start to fail because they're being overwhelmed with a liter of dead blood cells all at once.

Most people are familiar with A/B/O +/-, but the reality is far more complicated. Hundreds of different protein markers have been identified in human blood. Not all of them are clinically relevant in the sense that they can cause rejection, and not all of them have easy identification tests. The more precise and thorough the antigen testing can be, the less likely that a blood transfusion will accidentally kill a patient.

[–] Flipper@feddit.org 10 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I'm not sure about this antigen in particular but from the ab0 group 0 (lack of a and b) protects to a certain degree from malaria.

[–] Xain52@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago

When i was doing my rotation at a lab i found out about the bombay blood type. Its not a traditioanal blood type. If you gave someone with bombay blood o blood even they would have a reaction.

[–] lath@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Hey there. From one dumbass to another, i believe antigens help protect against mutation of the genetic code.

[–] blandfordforever@lemm.ee 10 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

These antigens are mainly significant in regards to blood transfusions.

People generally don't create antibodies against antigens that they have on their own cells.

If someone receives blood containing an antigen that isn't present on their own cells, and their body has already created antibodies against this "foregin" antigen, this can cause a hemolytic transfusion reaction (the transfused blood cells will rupture in the recipient), which can be fatal.