Children develop robust and sustained cross-reactive spike-specific immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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.

SUBMITTER: Dowell AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8709786 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature