New MAL Blood Group Solves a 50-Year Transfusion Mystery

UK and Israel researchers have identified a new human blood group system, MAL, tied to the AnWj antigen absent in a 1972 patient and missing in some individuals due to MAL gene mutations. The discovery, published in Blood in 2024, shows that AnWj-negative status can arise from mutations or, in some cases, antigen suppression. By confirming the MAL gene as the culprit, scientists can test for inheritance or underlying medical issues, improving care for rare transfusion patients.