On Mon, 13 Nov 2000, Cheryl Owen wrote:

> Are now looking into effects with other blood type antigens also.   ABO
> blood type is only one of at least 30 blood type systems, all of which are
> found on the red cell surfaces.  For an A2 blood type for instance, several
> of these antigens are much more numerous on the blood cell than the A
> antigen itself.  In other words, each of us is much more complex than just
> A,B or O.

Very interesting work.  I'm glad to hear that someone is trying
to confirm or disconfirm his theories.

He says that the main reason for using ABO is that unlike the
other blood antigens, which are "pure" blood antigens (i.e., are
found just on blood cells), the ABO types are also found in the
gut lining, where agglutination of cells could provide the portal
for lectins to enter the system.  The idea, I take it, is that if
one avoids the ABO-agglutinating lectins then the others don't
get into the blood either.  Or are less likely to.  Is this your
understanding as well?

Todd Moody
[log in to unmask]