June 15, 2021

Young Infants Exhibit Robust Functional Antibody Responses and Restrained IFN-γ Production to SARS-CoV-2

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Vaccines and Immunity

Keywords (Tags): antibodies, immunity, infants

• A study evaluating the immune responses in four infants with mild COVID-19 (median age 7 weeks old) found that compared to their parents who also had COVID-19 (n=8) and a cohort of adult controls with prior COVID-19 (n=10), infants had higher anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody levels in both sera and saliva and exhibited more robust serum neutralizing activity. Infants also had reduced production of interferon-gamma after direct ex-vivo stimulation (ELISPOT), despite a comparable frequency of SARS-specific T cells and comparable capacity for expansion with prolonged stimulation with SARS-CoV-2 antigens.

Goenka et al. (June 9, 2021). Young Infants Exhibit Robust Functional Antibody Responses and Restrained IFN-γ Production to SARS-CoV-2. Cell Reports Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100327