 |
| Biologist Bryan Ballif from University of Vermont who identified the mystery of two little blood types. Photo by: University of Vermont. |
The University of Vermont is home to 10,459 undergraduates, 1,540 graduate students, 449 medical students and 1,471 full- and part-time faculty. Located in Burlington, Vermont is one of America's most exciting small cities. U.S. News & World Report called UVM a Top Up-and-Coming School that's making promising and innovative changes. The University of Vermont has proved in real time its leading achievements at 22nd of this month by a new research regarding a blood type that most people have never even heard yet.
Until today we only know about: A, B, AB or O blood type. A
biologist of Vermont University has found a new blood types named as “Langereis”
and the “junior” blood type. Surely nobody had heard or knows about these two blood
groups before. How to consider Positive
or negative? Young biologist Bryan
Ballif describes his new research as “a matter of life and death”. Bryan states
that “More than 50,000 Japanese are thought to be Junior negative and may
encounter blood transfusion problems or mother-fetus incompatibility,” While
blood transfusion problems due to Langereis and Junior blood types are rare
worldwide, several ethnic populations are at risk, writes the young Bryan. Still
the mystery is the molecular basis of these two blood types. In the journal “Nature Genetics” of February, Ballif and his
colleagues report on their discovery of two proteins on red blood cells
responsible for these lesser-known blood types. “Only 30 proteins have
previously been identified as responsible for a basic blood type,” Ballif
notes, “but the count now reaches 32.” states Bryan. As specialized transport
proteins Ballif identified the two molecules named ABCB6 and ABCG2.” The last
new blood group proteins to be discovered were nearly a decade ago. So it’s
pretty remarkable to have two identified this year." Says Ballif. Findings
may also have implications for improved treatment of breast and other cancers
as both of the newly identified proteins are also associated with anticancer
drug resistance.
Although these other blood systems are very rare, “if you’re
that one individual, and you need a transfusion, there’s nothing more important
for you to know”, Ballif states with confidence. Ballif says that he is following
up on more unknown blood types with his international colleagues with the help
of this new research. “There are probably on the order of 10 to 15 more of
these unknown blood type systems — where we know there is a problem but we
don’t know what the protein is that is causing the problem. Although these
other blood systems are very rare, “if you’re that one individual, and you need
a transfusion, there’s nothing more important for you to know ” says the young biologist at a interview to an article which is publish at the website of University
of Vermont clarifying about his new research.
No comments: