title: The role of ABO blood groups and secretor status in host defences.
abstract: Epidemiological studies on the associations between ABO blood group antigens, secretor status and susceptibility to infectious agents are summarized. Evidence for association of non-secretion with some autoimmune diseases for which infectious aetiologies have been proposed is also given. Several hypotheses are proposed to explain the host-parasite interactions underlying the epidemiological observations, and evidence to support or refute them is presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, Medical School, University of Edinburgh, U.K.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Blackwell
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers; D015981:Epidemiologic Factors; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D015415:Biomarkers; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens