Universal kidney created that is compatible with any blood type## Translation notesI've provided a direct translation of the Russian text into English, preserving the meaning that scientists have developed a universal kidney that is compatible with any hu

A group of researchers from Canada and China has discovered an effective method for modifying donor kidneys, allowing organ transplantation to any person, regardless of their blood type. The scientific paper on this achievement was published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering (NBE).

Scientists have come close to overcoming one of the key challenges in modern transplantation - blood type incompatibility between donor and recipient. They managed to create a universal kidney that theoretically suits any person in need. Modern technologies already allow transplantations with different blood types, but such operations remain extremely complex - they require significant costs, time, and involve considerable risk. Problems associated with the ABO system still often lead to acute organ rejection.

In the experiment, specialists used a human kidney with blood type A (II), treating it with specific enzymes capable of transforming this organ into a "neutral" kidney with blood type O (I). The essence of the method is to remove certain markers from the organ's surface that normally determine blood type affiliation - after such a procedure, the kidney is not recognized by the immune system as foreign.

The study demonstrated in practice: the innovative organ was transplanted into a patient diagnosed with brain death, with permission from the family. The organ functioned in the body for several days, demonstrating viability. Although signs of the original blood type began to return over time, the immune system's rejection response was significantly weaker than with a conventional transplant.

Patients with type O blood especially need such a breakthrough - their wait for a donor kidney usually stretches for years. This problem is due to the fact that type O kidneys are suitable for transplantation to any recipient (with Rh factor compatibility), while such patients themselves can only count on organs of the same type. According to United States statistics, more than half of those waiting for kidney transplants belong to this group, and every day, eleven people tragically lose their lives without receiving the operation.

Despite the results obtained, the path to widespread implementation of the method is just beginning. Specialists still need to work out issues related to the duration of the enzymatic treatment effect. The discovery itself is already being called a significant step forward toward solving the problem of incompatibility in organ transplantation.