What is the antigen (kill agent) in blood supposed to kill?

Question

The kill component is in the red cells.  The antibody is in the plasma.

Who/what is targeted and is the antibody to it in plasma to protect individual from being killed by his own red blood cells?

I have a perplexing question about blood types that has been bothering me for awhile.

Here is a link that explains the types.
http://www.redcrossblood.org/learn-about


Some blood types have the antibody (cure) for this antigen in the plasma. Type O (mine) has no antigen (poison) but has the antibodies to both A and B in the plasma.

My question: What is this antigen supposed to kill? What is it's target and do you have a microscopic photo of it?

Also, why would blood types kill in the hospital, when every school child can mix blood safely in blood relative rituals...as do tribal cultures like in Indians, African tribes, Chinese (Neanderthal and Austalo races) etc. What has been put into the blood since the world wars started blood transfusion use that is now killing people? 

Blood transfusion was not done prior to WWII and the HIV/AIDS scare has only been around since 1981.

Are people experimenting on each other?

Debbie debbiepittman@yahoo.com

? · Accepted Answer

Antigens are substances that provoke a reaction with antibodies.  Antibodies are proteins made by the body that will stick to an antigen.

This is so that the body can fight things that are alien. A bacterium, for instance has proteins, glycoproteins etc on its surface which your body does not have so your lymphocytes can produce antibodies, that will stick to the the bacterium and destroy it. Blood group antigens are on the surface of red blood cells, but actually present on all cells.

So a person with a particular blood group may have antigens on its surface, but obviously no antibodies against that antigen...otherwise the body would destroy its own cells.  A person with A antigen, can therefore have only anti-B antibodies.  O type people will have both antiA and AntiB

Mixing the blood outside the body will not cause death, because the antigen antibody reaction happens outside the body.  the cells are destroyed, but the destroyed red cells can not affect the person...because it is outside the body.
If on the other hand, the non-compatible blood type is given to someone with antibodies against that blood (by transfusion), the person receiving the blood will get a transfusion reaction as his body destroys the cells given to him.  The destroyed cells, and the triggered immune response INSIDE the patients body, is what makes the patient ill and potentially can cause death

Betty · Answer

blood cell antigens are glycoprotiens on the surface of the cell, the antigen doesn't kill anything, an antigen is a word that is used to describe something that can induce an antibody response. A person with blood group A will have anti B in their plasma, these antibodies develop in infancy, blood transfusion is a relatively recent development.

Blood transfusion was not done prior to WW2 because no one understood the the blood group antigens & antibodies. A patient given the wrong antigen group ( a mistake, no one would do this deliberately) would have a massive transfusion reaction, a person who needed a transfusion would be ill and having a reaction would kill them.

Anonymous · Answer

A and B are proteins that are seen as foreign agents and that's why if you have type O you have antibodies against them. Blood rituals don't actual replace a large amount of blood between relatives; usually the reason you need a matching blood donor is because you've been in, for example, an accident and have lost a lot of blood and could die. If you are given a transfusion of blood with a blood type that is incompatible with yours, you will reject it, and your body will not be able to use the blood.

Antibodies "kill" antigens, not the other way around.

Nothing has been put into peoples blood that is killing people.

Ravi www.jes2s.com

Horsense · Answer

What I would like to see *thoroughly* researched, 
are the uses of chlorophyll & coconut water for 'alternative' blood replacement treatment!

Chlorophyll: The Blood of Plants for a Superior Blood Bank
http://educate-yourself.org/cn/chlorophyll0ct01.shtml

Chlorophyll instead of blood     
http://www.noblood.org/did-you-know/2823-chlorophyl-instead-blood.html

Coconuts - a Substitute for Blood Plasma
http://www.noblood.org/did-you-know/3117-coconuts-substitute-blood-plasma.html
(Go to the link "Coconuts can Save Your Life" posted by 'lifeisbeautiful'.)

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What is the antigen (kill agent) in blood supposed to kill?

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