Children develop robust and sustained cross-reactive spike-specific immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Nat Immunol
; 23(1): 40-49, 2022 01.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1585824
ABSTRACT
SARS-CoV-2 infection is generally mild or asymptomatic in children but a biological basis for this outcome is unclear. Here we compare antibody and cellular immunity in children (aged 3-11 years) and adults. Antibody responses against spike protein were high in children and seroconversion boosted responses against seasonal Beta-coronaviruses through cross-recognition of the S2 domain. Neutralization of viral variants was comparable between children and adults. Spike-specific T cell responses were more than twice as high in children and were also detected in many seronegative children, indicating pre-existing cross-reactive responses to seasonal coronaviruses. Importantly, children retained antibody and cellular responses 6 months after infection, whereas relative waning occurred in adults. Spike-specific responses were also broadly stable beyond 12 months. Therefore, children generate robust, cross-reactive and sustained immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 with focused specificity for the spike protein. These findings provide insight into the relative clinical protection that occurs in most children and might help to guide the design of pediatric vaccination regimens.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Coronavirus 229E, Human
/
Coronavirus OC43, Human
/
Cross Protection
/
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
Antibodies, Viral
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Topics:
Vaccines
/
Variants
Limits:
Adult
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Nat Immunol
Journal subject:
Allergy and Immunology
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S41590-021-01089-8
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