In a major leap for transplant medicine, scientists have successfully converted a donor kidney from blood type A into what functions as type O, the universal donor type.
When transplanted into a brain-dead individual, the modified organ worked normally for two days without triggering severe immune rejection.
Blood-type incompatibility is one of the biggest barriers in organ transplantation.
Patients with type O blood face the toughest odds because they can only receive organs from other type O donors, yet type O organs are in high demand across all groups.
By changing the donor organ’s blood type instead of altering the recipient’s immune system, researchers may have found a way to make far more organs universally compatible.
The process involves treating the donor kidney with enzymes that strip away sugar molecules, known as antigens, from the surface of its blood vessels. These antigens determine whether a person’s blood type is A, B, AB, or O. Once removed, the organ no longer “advertises” its original type, allowing it to behave like a universal match.
In the initial tests, the kidney produced urine and showed healthy function, demonstrating that the approach works, at least for a short period. After a couple of days, traces of the original A antigens began to reappear, causing mild immune activity. This means the method isn’t yet permanent, but it’s a promising proof of concept.
If perfected, this technique could dramatically expand the pool of compatible donor organs, shorten wait times, and save thousands of lives each year. Researchers still need to test the long-term safety and stability of the enzyme treatment, but the idea of turning any kidney into a universal donor marks an exciting step toward a more flexible and equitable transplant system.