Characterization of SARS CoV-2 Antibodies in Breast Milk from 21 Women with Confirmed COVID-19 Infection

One potential mechanism for protection from SARS-CoV-2 in infants and young children is through passive immunity via breast milk from a mother previously infected with the novel coronavirus. The primary objectives of this study were to establish the presence of SARS-CoV-2 specific IgA and IgG and to characterize the specific antigenic regions of SARS-CoV-2 proteins that were reactive with antibodies in breast milk from women with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Between March 2020 and September 2020, 21 women with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were enrolled into Mommys Milk at the University of California, San Diego. Women donated serial breast milk samples. Breast milk samples were used to probe a multi-coronavirus protein microarray containing full-length proteins and variable length overlapping fragments of SARS-CoV-2 spike (S), envelope (E), membrane (M), nucleocapsid (N), and open reading frame (ORF) proteins. The breast milk samples contained IgA reactive with a variety of SARS-CoV-2 antigens. The most IgA-reactive SARS-CoV-2 proteins were N (42.9% of women responded to 1 [≥] N fragment) and S proteins (23.9% of women responded to [≥] 1 fragment of S1 or S2). Overall, individual COVID-19 cases had diverse and unique milk IgA profiles over the course of follow-up since onset of SARS-CoV-2 symptoms.

Maternal and child outcomes reported by breastfeeding women following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination

Table of Contents SummaryO_ST_ABSWhats known on this subjectC_ST_ABSOne published U.S. study with 31 breastfeeding women who were vaccinated with either of the two available mRNA COVID-19 vaccines found that 67% experienced any side effects after dose one and 61% after dose two of the vaccine. What this study addsMore than 85% of 180 breastfeeding women who received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine reported local or systemic symptoms, with higher frequency following the second dose. Few symptoms were reported in their breastfed children. No serious adverse events were noted. Contributors Statement PageDr. Chambers and Ms. Bertrand designed the study and supervised the collection of data used in the study. Mr. Honerkamp-Smith performed the statistical analysis. All authors were involved in preparing the manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.