‘Gwada Negative’: The New Blood Type Discovered In A Woman From Guadeloupe

Updated Jun 23, 2025 | 06:00 PM IST

SummaryA woman from Guadeloupe was found to have “Gwada Negative,” a newly discovered and ultra-rare blood type, marking the world’s 48th blood group system with major transfusion implications.
‘Gwada Negative’: The New Blood Type Discovered In A Woman From Guadeloupe

In a breakthrough that could transform how we understand blood compatibility and genetic mutations, French scientists have identified a new and ultra-rare human blood group, officially recognized as the 48th blood group system in the world. Dubbed "Gwada Negative", the blood type was discovered in a woman from the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, and to date, she remains the only known person on Earth with this unique genetic profile.

The discovery not only expands the landscape of hematology but also highlights the critical importance of diversity in medical research, rare blood registries, and personalized healthcare.

The journey began quietly in 2011, when a 54-year-old woman undergoing routine pre-surgical testing in Paris presented with an unusual antibody in her blood. Despite efforts, researchers at the French Blood Establishment (EFS) couldn’t find a compatible donor, nor could they classify her blood within existing systems.

At the time, the tools to decode her rare profile weren’t advanced enough. But the case wasn’t forgotten.

By 2019, thanks to breakthroughs in high-throughput DNA sequencing, researchers re-analyzed her sample and discovered a genetic mutation in the PIGZ gene, which plays a role in anchoring proteins to the surface of blood cells. This mutation, inherited from both of her parents, created a completely novel blood group system.

In June 2024, the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) officially recognized "Gwada Negative" as the world’s 48th blood group system—a milestone that may impact everything from transfusion medicine to maternal-fetal care.

Why This Discovery is Revolutionary?

The implications of discovering a new blood group extend far beyond academic curiosity. Blood group compatibility is a life-or-death issue, especially during transfusions, organ transplants, or pregnancy. Incompatibility can lead to immune reactions, severe complications, or even death.

According to the CDC, approximately 14 million blood transfusions are performed annually in the U.S. alone. While most rely on common blood groups like A+, O−, or AB+, there exists an entire spectrum of rare and ultra-rare blood types that standard testing often misses.

The “Gwada Negative” case emphasizes the need to refine and expand global rare blood registries to include more ethnically diverse populations, especially from regions like the Caribbean, Africa, and South America where underrepresentation in biomedical research is prevalent.

What Makes 'Gwada Negative' Blood Type So Unique?

According to Dr. Thierry Peyrard, the medical biologist at EFS who led the discovery, the blood type was named “Gwada” as a nod to the patient’s Guadeloupean heritage and because the name “sounded good in all languages.”

But the science behind it is no less poetic. The PIGZ gene mutation responsible for this blood type affects how proteins bind to red blood cells—an anomaly not found in any other known human sample.

“She is the only person in the world who is compatible with herself,” Peyrard remarked, underlining the magnitude of the challenge: no blood donor, not even family members, matched her type. In medical terms, this makes her the most transfusion-challenged person alive.

Significance of ' Gwada Negative' for Global Health

As genetic sequencing becomes more accessible and advanced, the pace of discovering new blood groups is accelerating. The discovery of Gwada Negative joins a growing list of rare blood types, adding crucial data to our understanding of hematological diversity and helping us respond better in emergencies involving rare phenotypes.

According to EFS, it has been responsible for identifying 10 of the last 17 blood group systems over the past decade, showing how France has quietly become a global leader in blood science.

“Discovering new blood groups means offering patients with rare blood types a better level of care,” said the EFS in a statement. “It brings hope—especially when seconds count in emergency situations.”

While the discovery of Gwada Negative is historic, the next step is critical: finding others who share this blood group, particularly within populations that may carry similar ancestry or genetic mutations.

Peyrard and his team are working on launching targeted blood donor campaigns in Guadeloupe and among people of Caribbean descent. Their goal is to identify other carriers and potentially build an international rare blood donor registry that includes this newly classified group.

This is especially important for women of childbearing age. If a pregnant woman with a rare blood type produces antibodies against her fetus's blood cells, it can lead to hemolytic disease of the newborn—a serious, and sometimes fatal, complication.

How The New Blood Type Will Impact Rare Diseases and Genetic Research?

The implications of discovering new blood types go beyond transfusions. Mutations like those found in the PIGZ gene may also shed light on other genetic disorders, including those affecting the immune system, neurological conditions, and inflammatory diseases.

“This discovery has not only functional results,” Peyrard noted. “It allows for a better understanding of pathologies.”

In the future, understanding blood types at a molecular level could even lead to personalized cancer therapies or targeted drug development for rare conditions.

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Pancreatic Cancer: New Study Warns How Your Alcohol Habit Could Be A Date With One Of The World’s Deadliest Cancers

Updated Aug 13, 2025 | 01:57 PM IST

SummaryThe Miami researchers discovered that alcohol, in high quantities, can damage the very pancreatic cells that make those enzymes. This injury sparks inflammation that can smoulder away until it creates precancerous lesions. Left unchecked, these can evolve into pancreatic cancer, a disease with a grim reputation.
Credits: Canva

A new study from scientists in Miami has raised a big red flag saying that heavy alcohol consumption does not just damage your liver; it could also be quietly harming your pancreas and paving the way to one of the most lethal cancers in the world. While nobody talks much about this organ, it keeps your show running. Sitting behind the stomach, the pancreas organ produces the digestive enzymes that help you break down food, as well as the hormones that regulate your blood sugar.

The fresh study, published in Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, sheds new light on how alcohol-induced inflammation accelerates the development of the deadly disease.

The Miami researchers discovered that alcohol, in high quantities, can damage the very pancreatic cells that make those enzymes. This injury sparks inflammation that can smoulder away until it creates precancerous lesions. Left unchecked, these can evolve into pancreatic cancer, a disease with a grim reputation.

A gene that could save the day

Not everyone who enjoys a tipple is destined for cancer. For the disease to develop, researchers found that a mutation in a gene called Ras, which controls cell growth, must also be present. But when alcohol was paired with a pro-inflammatory molecule in experiments, the effects mimicked alcohol-induced pancreatitis, complete with inflammation, lesions, and cancer.

The breakthrough? By disabling a gene called CREB, the scientists stopped both precancerous and cancerous lesions from forming. In other words, CREB seems to hold the keys to either the safe or self-destruct modes for your pancreas.

Why this matters more now

Pancreatic cancer kills over 9,000 people in the UK and more than 52,000 in the US every year. The five-year survival rate? About 10 to 12 per cent, among the lowest of any cancer. To make matters worse, cases are rising among younger people, though deaths have not yet spiked.

What makes this cancer so deadly is its silence. Symptoms rarely appear until it has already spread, and by then, treatment options are limited.

The stealthy symptoms you should not ignore

  • Belly pain that radiates to your back
  • Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite
  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
  • Pale or floating stools, dark urine, and itching
  • New or worsening diabetes
  • Fatigue or weakness

By the time these appear, the disease is often in an advanced stage, which is why prevention is key.

Defining ‘heavy drinking

The study defined heavy alcohol use as eight or more drinks per week for women and 15 or more for men. Over months and years, that adds up to a consistent assault on your pancreas.

Complications that make life harder

Pancreatic cancer isn’t just fatal; it can also cause a series of painful, exhausting complications:

  • Weight loss as the body struggles to absorb nutrients
  • Blocked bile ducts leading to jaundice
  • Abdominal pain from tumors pressing on nerves
  • Bowel obstructions
  • Painful swelling in the limbs due to blood clots

Reportedly, managing these often requires procedures like stent placements or even nerve-block injections, adding more physical and emotional strain to an already heavy burden.

How to reduce the risk

  • Cut back on alcohol: You do not need to go teetotal overnight, but trimming down your weekly intake could protect your pancreas.
  • Quit smoking: Tobacco and alcohol together are really bad.
  • Maintain a healthy weight: Extra body fat increases inflammation and strains your pancreas.
  • Eat for your pancreas: Load your plate with vegetables, fruit, and whole grains, and keep processed foods to a minimum.
  • Stay active: Exercise helps manage weight and lowers inflammation.

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Experts Warn Against The Unique Symptoms Of 'Stratus' Covid Strain That Has Infected A Large UK Population; Can It Evade Antibodies?

Updated Aug 13, 2025 | 11:35 AM IST

SummaryA new COVID-19 strain, Stratus, with variants XFG and XFG.3, is spreading in England, with XFG.3 making up 30% of cases. WHO says there’s no evidence of increased severity or reduced vaccine effectiveness, though symptoms may differ, including hoarseness, headaches, nasal congestion, mild fever, and lingering fatigue.
Experts Warn Against The Unique Symptoms Of 'Stratus' Covid Strain That Has Infected A Large UK Population; Can It Evade Antibodies?

Credits: Canva

The UKHSA has noted that a new strain of COVID-19 virus, called Stratus, with two variants, XFG and XFG.3, has accounted for a high proportion cases in England, reports the Independent. Among these two variants, XFG.3 has accounted for 30% of cases in the country.

However, experts have suggested to not panic on the arrival of this new strain. Dr Alex Allen, consultant epidemiologist of UKHSA said, "It is normal for viruses to mutate and change over time," as reported by the Independent. However, the UKHSA has also confirmed that it continues to monitor all strains of COVID in the UK. For now, experts are not concerned over the spread.

What Is Stratus XFG and XFG.3?

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), XFG is a "variant under monitoring" and that any health risk posed by this variant remain low at the global level.

As of now, globally, XFG has the highest relative growth when compared to the other variants that are currently active and circulating, including "Nimbus" NB.1.8.1.

Also Read: World Organ Donation Day 2025: Theme, History, And Importance

The WHO also confirmed that current data does not indicate that this variant leads to more severe illness or deaths than the other currently active variants in circulation.

Unique Symptoms Of Stratus COVID Strain

While the strain is said to be not a cause of concern, the symptoms may be unique from what we traditionally know COVID symptoms to be.

The WHO however, time and again has said that there is no increase in severity. It said, "While there are reported increases in cases and hospitalisations in some of the [South-east Asia Region] countries, which has the highest proportion of XFG, there are no reports to suggest that the associated disease severity is higher as compared to other circulating variants."

Dr Allen also seconded the opinion and said, "Based on the available information so far, there is no evidence to suggest that the XFG and XFG.3 variants cause more severe disease than previous variants, or that the vaccines in current use will be less effective against them.”

The unique symptoms of Stratus COVID strain includes:

  • Sore throat or hoarseness, as experts have also claimed that Stratus can give patients a "hoarse voice".
  • Headaches that can last several days
  • Nasal congestion and mild fever
  • Fatigue that lingers beyond acute phase

Other than these unique symptoms, the common COVID symptoms like change in smell or taste, shortness of breath and chest discomfort remain, however, it may be uncommon in vaccinated individuals.

Are There Any Risks Around The New Stratus Strain?

XFG is growing rapidly compared to co-circulating variants globally. However, XFG exhibits only marginal additional immune evasion over [other varient] LP.8.1. While there are reported increases in cases and hospitalizations in some of the [South-east Asia Region] countries, which has the highest proportion of XFG, there are no reports to suggest that the associated disease severity is higher as compared to other circulating variants. The available evidence on XFG does not suggest additional public health risks relative to the other currently circulating Omicron descendant lineages," said WHO.

Do We Need New Vaccines For The New Strain?

The WHO said that as per the current available data, the currently approved COVID-19 vaccines are expected to remain effective against symptomatic and severe diseases, including caused by the new strain.

However, Dr Kaywaan Khan, Harley Street GP and founder of Hannah London Clinic told Cosmopolitan UK that due to certain mutations in the spike protein in Stratus strain, it could evade antibodies "developed from prior infections or vaccinations".

While WHO noted that the risk of vaccine evasion is low, it also noted that more studies must be added to assess the risk of antibody escape.

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World Organ Donation Day 2025: Theme, History, And Importance

Updated Aug 13, 2025 | 11:32 AM IST

SummaryThe World Organ Donation Day is observed on August 13 of each year, globally. The aim for this day is to encourage and educate more and more people on the procedure of organ donation and how it can change one's life. Read on to know more about it and how a woman's donation changed four people's lives.
World Organ Donation Day 2025: Theme, History, And Importance

Credits: Canva

Every year, on August 13, World Organ Donation Day is observed, globally, to spread awareness about the importance of organ donation and to make people aware about the misconceptions that surround organ donation.

World Organ Donation Day 2025 Theme And Significance

This year's theme for World Organ Donation Day is 'Answering the Call'. This theme highlights the important function played by the professionals in the organ donation community. What it means is to encourage more to strengthen their dedication to save as many lives as possible through organ donation and transplantation.

The Pace Hospital notes that as of 2021, globally, 1,44,302 organ transplantations had occurred, of which, 26.44% were of deceased organ donation. India performed a total of 12,259 transplantation, contributing to 8% in global transplantations. In India, the most transplants that took place were for kidneys at 74.27%, liver at 23.33%, heart at 1.23%, lung at 1.08%, pancreas at 0.15%, and small intestine at 0.03%.

Also Read: Experts Warn Against The Unique Symptoms Of 'Stratus' Covid Strain That Has Infected A Large UK Population; Can It Evade Antibodies?

The overall number of deceased donors transplantation in India was 4.5%. While the deceased donors transplantation in India was reported 759 for kidney, 279 for liver and 99 for heart, the Indian Ministry of Health's estimated that it needs 175,000 kidneys, 50,000 livers, hearts, and lungs and 2,500 pancreas to meet the demand.

The Indian Ministry of Road and Transport and Highway's 2021 report notes that more than 1.5 lakh were reported as accident-related mortalities, however, only 552 deceased brain deaths organ transplantations took place in 2021. This is why it is more so important to raise awareness about organ donation to help those in requirement and reducing the number of patients on the waiting list.

History Of Organ Donation

It was in 1954, when the first successful organ transplant was performed. It was a kidney transplant by Dr Joseph Murray and his team at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.

The donor was Ronald Lee Herrick, who donated his organ to his twin brother Richard Herrick. Later in 1990, the doctor was honored with Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine for bringing advances in organ transplantation.

Th United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) highlights the timeline of the first donations and transplants performed of different organs.

  • 1996: First simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplant performed.
  • 1967: First successful liver transplant performed.
  • 1968: The Southeast Organ Procurement Foundation implemented the first computer-based organ matching system, which was dubbed as UNOS. It successfully performed the first isolated pancreas transplant and heart transplant.
  • 1981: First successful heart-lung transplant performed.
  • 1983: First successful single-lung transplant performed. Cyclosporine, the first of a number of drugs that effectively treat organ rejection by suppressing the human immune system, introduced.
  • 1984: National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) was passed.
  • 1986: First successful double-lung transplant performed.
  • 1987: First successful intestinal transplant performed.
  • 1988: First split-liver transplant performed.
  • 1989: First successful living donor liver transplant performed.
  • 1990: First successful living donor lung transplant performed.
  • 1992: UNOS helped found Donate Life America to build public support for organ donation.
  • 1998: First successful adult-to-adult living donor liver transplant performed.

How Organ Donation Can Change A Life?

In March 2024, a dedicated Delhi-based teacher, Meena Mehta was declared brain dead and her organs were donated to many, including her hands, shared her nephew Jawed Mehta. A 45-year-old Delhi-based painter had lost both his hands in a 2020 train accident, who received hand transplant. The hands were of Meena Mehta. After a 12-hour long surgery, the painter was able to paint again. Meena Mehta also donated her kidney, liver, and corneas, which has changed lives of three more people.

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