Children Produce Different Antibodies in Response to SARS-CoV-2

Children and adults produce different types and amounts of antibodies in response to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), according to a study published in Nature Immunology.

The differences in antibodies suggest the course of the infection and immune response is distinct in children and most children easily clear the virus from their bodies.

"Our study provides an in-depth examination of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in kids, revealing a stark contrast with adults," said Donna Farber, PhD, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York.

"In kids, the infectious course is much shorter and probably not as disseminated as in adults," added Matteo Porotto, PhD, Columbia University. "Kids may clear this virus more efficiently than adults and they may not need a strong antibody immune response to get rid of it."

Among the 47 children in the study, 16 were treated at Columbia University Irving Medical Center for multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) and 31 children of similar ages had tested positive for the virus after visiting the medical centre for the treatment of other conditions. Half of the children without MIS-C had no coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms. The 32 adults in the study ranged from severely affected patients admitted to the hospital to those with milder disease who recovered at home.

Both groups of children produced the same antibody profile, which differed from that of adults. Compared with adults, children produced fewer antibodies against the virus's spike protein, and the children's antibodies had the least neutralising activity, while all adults, including young adults in their 20s, produced neutralising antibodies. The sickest adults had the most neutralising activity.

In contrast to adults, children also produced very few antibodies against a viral protein that is only visible to the immune system after the virus infects human cells.

"Because children clear the natural virus rapidly, they do not have a widespread infection and they do not need a strong antibody response," said Dr. Porotto.

"Even though children don't produce neutralising antibodies in response to a natural infection with SARS-CoV-2, vaccines are designed to generate a protective immune response in the absence of an infection," said Dr. Farber. "Children respond very well to vaccines, and I think they will develop good neutralizing antibody responses to a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, and they'll probably be better protected than the adults."

Reference: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41590-020-00826-9

SOURCE: Columbia University Irving Medical Center

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Benjamin Hidalgo-Matlock
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