Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31182795›Full record

ArticleNature microbiology2019

An enzymatic pathway in the human gut microbiome that converts A to universal O type blood.

Peter Rahfeld, Lyann Sim, Haisle Moon, Iren Constantinescu, Connor Morgan-Lang, Steven J Hallam, Jayachandran N Kizhakkedathu, Stephen G Withers

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Nature microbiology, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 48 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
48citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
3.5field-weighted citation impact, top 6% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

48 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 112 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Discovery of a secretedGut microbes · 2026
    Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Immobilized Enzymes for ABO-Independent Blood Cell Transfusions.Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology · 2025
    Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Improving normothermic machine perfusion and blood transfusion through biocompatible blood silicification.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2024
    Article
  16. Article
  17. Review
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Peter RahfeldDepartment of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Lyann Sim *Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Haisle Moon *Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Life Sciences Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Iren ConstantinescuDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Life Sciences Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Connor Morgan-LangDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Life Sciences Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Steven J HallamDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Life Sciences Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4889-6876
Jayachandran N KizhakkedathuDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Life Sciences Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7688-7574
Stephen G WithersDepartment of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. withers@chem.ubc.ca.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6722-5701
University of British Columbia · CAUniversity of British Columbia Hospital · CA

Funding

Overall Priority Score P41GM103694 · NIGMS · EMORY UNIVERSITY · PI CUMMINGS, RICHARD D · 2013 to 2018
$6.9M
Protein-Glycan Interaction Resource of the CFGR24GM098791 · NIGMS · EMORY UNIVERSITY · PI CUMMINGS, RICHARD D, PAULSON, JAMES C · 2011 to 2013
$2.6M
CIHR MOP-136940NIGMS NIH HHS R24 GM098791
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Access to efficient enzymes that can convert A and B type red blood cells to 'universal' donor O would greatly increase the supply of blood for transfusions. Here we report the functional metagenomic screening of the human gut microbiome for enzymes that can remove the cognate A and B type sugar antigens. Among the genes encoded in our library of 19,500 expressed fosmids bearing gut bacterial DNA, we identify an enzyme pair from the obligate anaerobe Flavonifractor plautii that work in concert to efficiently convert the A antigen to the H antigen of O type blood, via a galactosamine intermediate. The X-ray structure of the N-acetylgalactosamine deacetylase reveals the active site and mechanism of the founding member of an esterase family. The galactosaminidase expands activities within the CAZy family GH36. Their ability to completely convert A to O of the same rhesus type at very low enzyme concentrations in whole blood will simplify their incorporation into blood transfusion practice, broadening blood supply.

Indexed as

Gastrointestinal MicrobiomeABO Blood-Group SystemAmidohydrolasesBacterial ProteinsBlood Group AntigensCatalytic DomainCrystallography, X-RayErythrocytesEubacterialesFecesHexosaminidasesHumansMaleMetagenomeABO Blood-Group Systemacetylgalactosamine deacetylaseAmidohydrolasesBacterial ProteinsBlood Group AntigensHexosaminidases

Identifiers

PMID31182795
OpenAlexW2952945258

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.