Scientists have achieved a major breakthrough in increasing access to donor organs as they successfully transformed a blood-type-A kidney into blood-type-O and transplanted it into a brain-dead person.
This medical breakthrough is a milestone and it has moved the world one-step closer to universal donor-organs.
According to a recent study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, it has been revealed that the researchers used enzymes for the conversion and the donor organ functioned well for two days before showing signs of rejection.
For context, Enzymes are proteins that kick-start chemical reactions in the body.
Experts are hopeful that with a bit of refinement, organs able to function for much longer can be made, thus paving the way for shorter waits on organ donors lists.
Kidney transplantation is a treatment for patients with renal disease and it has been in place since the 1950s. But like all other transplant treatments, it has its own limitations.
The donor blood group needs to match the recipients and even if it does so, the organ must be of appropriate size and geographically close enough to get the transplant done in time.
There exist four major blood groups among humans, A, B, AB, and O and there exists a possibility that the immune system of one blood type may react against another type, causing the transplant process to become very difficult.
Blood-type-O lacks the antigens against other blood types and is considered a universal donor.
If converting donor organs between blood types becomes routine, it could greatly streamline the transplant process.