ABO Blood Groups

Rhesus Factor +-

Why are blood types important?

Blood transfusion A blood transfusion creating a wrong

combination of donor-patient blood types could result in the death of the patient.

Furthermore a wrong combination donor-patient of the Rhesus factor could also provoke a rejection from the patient’s body and result in death.

Blood Types History

Karl Landsteiner (1900) found out that the blood of two people under contact agglutinates.

As a result he succeeded (1901) in identifying the three blood groups A, B and 0, of human blood.

He won the Nobel Prize for this. Based on his findings, in 1907 the first

successful blood transfusion was performed at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.

The Rhesus Factor D Individuals either have, or do not have, the

Rhesus factor (or Rh D antigen) on the surface of their red blood cells. This is usually indicated by "RhD positive" or "RhD negative" suffix to the ABO blood type.

The Rhesus system is named after the Rhesus Macaque, following experiments by Karl Landsteiner and Alexander S. Wiener

Rhesus Macaque

Reminder, Immune System

The body is able to attack and destroy “invading” cells

This is called an immune response

We all have Antibodies proteins that recognize and attack

foreign (outsiders) molecules.

Immune System

In order for our own red blood cells to be recognized by or own immune system, they have Antigens on their surface

RED BLOOD CELL

ANTIGEN

ANTIBODY

Antibody A (Anti-A) reacts with Antigen A

Antibody B (Anti-B) reacts with Antigen B

This causes CLUMPING (agglutination) = DEATH!

The Antigen indicates the Blood Type

Blood Type A Antigen A

Blood Type B Antigen B

Blood Type AB Antigen A and Antigen B

Blood Type O No Antigens

Presence of Antigens and Antibodies

If you have Blood Type…

Antigen on your red blood cell

Antibody in your body

Blood Type A A Anti-B

Blood Type B B Anti-A

Blood Type AB AB NONE

Blood Type O NONE Anti-A and Anti-B

Blood Type A, can you receive Blood Type B?

Blood Type AB, can you receive Blood Type... A? B? AB? O?

Blood Type O, can you receive any other blood type?

So, if you have...

Why do the antibodies of the donor not have an

effect?

The antibodies of the donor are diluted by the recipient’s blood plasma (watery part of the blood) which is why this rarely causes agglutination leading to death.

Another type of Protein (Antigen) present or not on the red blood cell.

Named after the Rhesus Macaque. Rh positive means the Antigen is

present. Rh negative means the Antigen is

absent. Rh negative does not have Rh antibody

naturally. A+ , B+ , AB+ and O+ all are Rh positive. A-, B-, AB- and O- are all Rh negative.

Rhesus Factor

Rh + person blood transfused into Rh - person:

Rh - person develops antibodies for Rh factor + which will result in blood agglutination and eventually death Rh - person blood

transfused into Rh + person:

NO PROBLEM

Rhesus Factor

If you have Blood Type…

Antigen on your red blood cell

Antibody in your body

A+, B+, AB+, O+ Rh D None

A-, B-, AB-, O- None Anti-Rh D

ProblemRh negative mother and Rh positive

baby. Blood cells from baby may pass from placenta into mother during child birth. The mother develops antibodies for Rh+. Only a problem if she has another baby that is Rh+ because her antibodies will attack baby’s blood cells and rupture them.

Resulting in baby’s blood count being low. This is called Rh disease of the newborn (hemolytic).

SolutionMother is given: Rh Immune-globuline which prevents her from making Rh+ antibodies.

How to determine Blood Types Have a sample of blood Add the Antibody serums Look for agglutination Conclude

1. What is agglutination?2. Who was awarded the Nobel Prize for his research in determining blood types? 3. What are antigens? Where are they located?4. What are antibodies? Where are they located?5. What happens when incompatible blood types are mixed?6. What is the Rh factor?7. Sketch a red blood cell that is Rh+.8. What will happen if a blood type A patient with A antigens is mixed with blood that has Aantibodies?9. Which blood type can donate blood to anyone? Why? Which blood type can receive blood fromeveryone? Why?