New blood in town... Discovery of Langereis and Junior types is a breakthrough for transfusions, transplants and cancer research

Daily Mail

Everyone has heard of the four main blood types - A, B, AB and O - but scientists have revealed that there are two new kids on the block... and their names are Langereis and Junior.

Researchers at the University of Vermont say that the identification of these two new types of blood will have major medical benefits in the fields of transfusions and organ transplants, as well as foetal development and the fight against cancer.

Biologist Bryan Ballif, who lead the team that solved the riddle of the two new blood types, explained: 'More than 50,000 Japanese are thought to be Junior negative, and may encounter blood transfusion problems or mother-foetus incompatibility.'

In the February issue of Nature Genetics, Professor Ballif and his colleagues report on their discovery of two proteins on red blood cells responsible for these lesser-known blood types.

Professor Ballif identified the two molecules as specialised transport proteins, named ABCB6 and ABCG2.

He said: 'Only 30 proteins have previously been identified as responsible for a basic blood type... but the count now reaches 32.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2105828/New-blood-town--Discovery-Langereis-Junior-types-breakthrough-transfusions-transplants-cancer-research.html#ixzz1nQoyFHb5