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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'She is the only person in the world compatible with herself' — scientists discover new blood type but it's unique to just one person from Guadeloupe
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Scientists have discovered a new blood group that has so far only been identified in one woman, from the French overseas region of Guadeloupe. The 68-year-old is the only known person in the world to have this blood group, which has been named "Gwada negative," after a local name for her home islands. The researchers behind the discovery announced their work in a presentation at the International Society of Blood Transfusion's Congress in Milan, which concluded June 4. The research team first met the woman in 2011, when she was living in Paris and undergoing routine tests before a surgery. But the tests couldn't reveal her blood type or any matches for it. Analysis at the time wasn't advanced enough to detect the cause, and the case lay cold for eight years. In 2019, researchers utilized high-throughput gene sequencing analysis, which enables faster and more in-depth analysis of DNA, to re-examine the woman's blood. Two years of detailed research followed, in which the team sequenced her entire genome. Human blood group systems are more complex than you might think. These classifications refer to proteins and sugars found on the surface of red blood cells, called antigens, which are recognized by our immune system. Austrian-American biologist Dr. Karl Landsteiner identified the first and most familiar blood group system — ABO — in 1901, and this won him a Nobel in 1930. Related: How many blood types are there? The classic ABO blood typing system describes whether people have one, both or neither of the antigens known as "A" and "B" on their blood cells. The second most well-known blood group system is rhesus classification, which considers whether your cells are "positive" or "negative" for an antigen called Rh factor. Together, the combinations of the ABO and Rh systems give us the eight main blood groups — but there are dozens of lesser known blood group systems, 45 of which were recognized by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) as of 2024. Now, Gwada negative has been recognized as number 48. The woman's unusual lab test results eventually led to the discovery of a mutation in a gene called PIGZ, which alters how proteins anchor to the surface of blood cells. The woman's unique mutations mean "she is the only person in the world compatible with herself," Thierry Peyrard, a biologist at French blood research body Établissement français du sang (EFS), told AFP. Blood group systems are essential for blood transfusions, as our bodies reject blood group antigens that they perceive as foreign. If we go back to the ABO system, for example, people with both A and B antigens can receive blood from anyone else, as their body recognizes both antigens as familiar. People with the O blood type have neither A or B antigens, meaning they can only receive blood from other type O donors. RELATED STORIES —What's the rarest blood type? —Lab-made universal blood could revolutionize transfusions. Scientists just got one step closer to making it. —Why do we have different blood types? While the ABO and Rh systems are still considered the most critical for transfusions, rarer systems can still influence who an individual can receive blood from. The research team's next aim is to discover whether there are other people with this unique new blood group. As blood types are genetic and thus often shared by populations with similar ancestries, the team intends to start the search among blood donors in Guadeloupe. "Discovering new blood types means offering patients with rare blood a better level of care," the EFS statement says.
Gizmodo
23-06-2025
- Health
- Gizmodo
Scientists Just Found a New, Incredibly Rare Blood Type
Step aside A, B, and O—there's a new player in town. Scientists in France have just reported the discovery of a novel, rare blood type, only recorded in a single person to date. The French Blood Establishment (EFS), the country's sole civilian blood transfusion organization, announced the discovery over the weekend. The blood type, nicknamed 'Gwada negative,' was found in a French woman originally from Guadeloupe. It's the 48th distinct blood group system to be established. 'This discovery was officially recognized in early June in Milan by the International Society of Blood Transfusion,' the EFS said in a statement released on LinkedIn Friday. The 'Man With the Golden Arm': Blood Donor Who Saved Millions Dies at 88 It's taken a long while for this recognition to happen. Researchers at the EFS first noticed an unusual antibody in the woman's blood in 2011, after she provided a sample for routine examination before a surgery in her early 50s. But they simply didn't have the resources or technology needed at the time to look further into it. Finally, in 2019, they were able to perform 'high-throughput DNA sequencing' of the woman's genetics, which confirmed she possessed a unique blood-related mutation inherited from both her parents. Her blood type appears to be the result of having both copies of this mutation, since her siblings have one copy and don't have it. The blood type is formally called PIGZ, with Gwada negative being a reference to the woman's Guadeloupean origin (Guadeloupe is an French island region in the Caribbean). So far, she seems to be one of a kind. 'She is the only person in the world who is compatible with herself,' Thierry Peyrard, a medical biologist at the EFS who helped discover the blood type, told the AFP. Donated Blood Is Safe No Matter a Person's Sex, Large Trial Finds Blood types refer to the particular combinations of antigens that cover our red blood cells. The most commonly found antigens belong to the ABO blood group, but scientists have discovered over 600 separate antigens that can be sorted into dozens of blood groups. Knowing our blood type is important, since our body's immune system can generate antibodies that attack blood cells from someone with a blood type incompatible with ours. This not only complicates blood donation but pregnancy. So aside from simple curiosity, categorizing Gwada negative and other rare blood types can be medically vital. 'Discovering new blood types means offering patients with rare blood a better level of care,' the EFS said. Peyrard and his colleagues are now hoping to find others with the woman's blood type, and will first plan to look for it among blood donors in Guadeloupe.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
French scientists discover new blood type in Guadeloupe woman
French scientists have discovered a new blood type in a woman from the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, France's blood supply agency announced Friday. The woman is the only known carrier of a new blood type, dubbed "Gwada negative," the French Blood Establishment (EFS) said. The discovery was made 15 years after researchers received a blood sample from a patient who was undergoing routine tests ahead of a surgery. "The EFS has just discovered the 48th blood group system in the world!" the agency said in a statement on social network LinkedIn, adding that the discovery was officially recognized by the International Society of Blood Transfusion in early June. The scientific association had until now recognized 47 blood group systems. Thierry Peyrard, a medical biologist at the EFS involved in the discovery, told AFP that a "very unusual" antibody was first found in the patient in 2011. However, resources at the time did not allow for further research, he added. Scientists were finally able to unravel the mystery in 2019 thanks to "high-throughput DNA sequencing", which highlighted a genetic mutation, Peyrard said. The patient, who was 54 at the time and lived in Paris, was undergoing routine tests before surgery when the unknown antibody was detected, Peyrard said. This woman "is undoubtedly the only known case in the world," he said, adding: "She is the only person in the world who is compatible with herself." The medical biologist said the woman inherited the blood type from her father and mother, who each had the mutated gene. The name "Gwada negative", which refers to the patient's origins and "sounds good in all languages", has been popular with the experts, said Peyrard. The ABO blood group system was first discovered in the early 1900s. Thanks to DNA sequencing, the discovery of new blood groups has accelerated in recent years. Peyrard and colleagues are now hoping to find other people with the same blood group. "Discovering new blood groups means offering patients with rare blood types a better level of care," the EFS said. Saturday Sessions: Grace Potter performs "Paris" Saturday Sessions: Grace Potter performs "Medicine" Saturday Sessions: Grace Potter performs "Before the Sky Falls"
CBS News
21-06-2025
- Health
- CBS News
French scientists discover new blood type in Guadeloupe woman
French scientists have discovered a new blood type in a woman from the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, France's blood supply agency announced Friday. The woman is the only known carrier of a new blood type, dubbed "Gwada negative," the French Blood Establishment (EFS) said. The discovery was made 15 years after researchers received a blood sample from a patient who was undergoing routine tests ahead of a surgery. "The EFS has just discovered the 48th blood group system in the world!" the agency said in a statement on social network LinkedIn, adding that the discovery was officially recognized by the International Society of Blood Transfusion in early June. The scientific association had until now recognized 47 blood group systems. Thierry Peyrard, a medical biologist at the EFS involved in the discovery, told AFP that a "very unusual" antibody was first found in the patient in 2011. However, resources at the time did not allow for further research, he added. Scientists were finally able to unravel the mystery in 2019 thanks to "high-throughput DNA sequencing", which highlighted a genetic mutation, Peyrard said. The patient, who was 54 at the time and lived in Paris, was undergoing routine tests before surgery when the unknown antibody was detected, Peyrard said. This woman "is undoubtedly the only known case in the world," he said, adding: "She is the only person in the world who is compatible with herself." The medical biologist said the woman inherited the blood type from her father and mother, who each had the mutated gene. The name "Gwada negative", which refers to the patient's origins and "sounds good in all languages", has been popular with the experts, said Peyrard. The ABO blood group system was first discovered in the early 1900s. Thanks to DNA sequencing, the discovery of new blood groups has accelerated in recent years. Peyrard and colleagues are now hoping to find other people with the same blood group. "Discovering new blood groups means offering patients with rare blood types a better level of care," the EFS said.
