Hannah G. Juncker (Netherlands)
Amsterdam University Medical Center PediatricsAuthor Of 2 Presentations
DECREASED PASSIVE IMMUNITY TO RESPIRATORY VIRUSES THROUGH HUMAN MILK DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
Abstract
Backgrounds:
Infants may develop severe viral respiratory tract infections because their immune system is still undeveloped. Human milk provides passive humoral immunity during the first months of life. During the COVID-19 pandemic, circulation of common respiratory viruses was virtually absent due to the preventative measures resulting in reduced maternal exposure. Therefore, we hypothesized that this might result in lower antibody levels in human milk during the pandemic and, subsequently, decreased protection of infants against viral respiratory tract infections.
Methods
We assessed antibody levels against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Influenza virus, and several seasonal coronaviruses in different periods of the COVID-19 pandemic in serum and human milk using a Luminex assay.
Results:
IgG levels against RSV, Influenza, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-HKU1, and HCoVNL63 in human milk were reduced with a factor of 1.7 (p<0.001), 2.2 (p<0.01), 2.6 (p<0.05), 1.4 (p<0.01), and 2.1 (p<0.001), respectively, since the introduction of the COVID-19 restrictions. Furthermore, we observed that human milk of mothers that experienced COVID-19 contained increased levels of IgG and IgA binding to other respiratory viruses.
Conclusions/Learning Points:
Passive immunity via human milk against common respiratory viruses was reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may put breastfed infants at increased risk for respiratory infections.
COMPARING THE HUMAN MILK ANTIBODY RESPONSE AFTER FOUR DIFFERENT VACCINES AGAINST COVID-19: HIGHEST SARS-COV-2-SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES AFTER VACCINATION WITH MRNA-BASED VACCINES
Abstract
Backgrounds:
Vaccination of lactating women against COVID-19 may protect not only themselves but also their breast-fed infant through human milk. Therefore, it is important to gain insight into the human milk antibody response after immunization with the various vaccines that are currently widely used. The aim of this study is to determine and compare the antibody response in human milk following vaccination with mRNA- and vector-based vaccines up to over 2 months post-vaccination.
Methods
In this prospective cohort study, human milk samples from women receiving four different SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were collected longitudinally during a period of 70 days. SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The area under the curve of the antibody response was determined over 15 and 70 days following vaccination and compared between the different vaccines.
Results:
This study enrolled 134 vaccinated lactating women, who provided a total of 1887 human milk samples. After vaccination with an mRNA-based vaccine, almost all participants (96/97%) showed detectable SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in their milk, whereas only 37-50% of the participants who received a vector-based vaccine showed human milk antibodies. The mean area under the curve of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in human milk over 70 days was the highest after vaccination with an mRNA-based vaccine.
Conclusions/Learning Points:
Maternal vaccination during lactation with an mRNA-based vaccine resulted in higher SARS-CoV-2 IgA and IgG responses in human milk compared to vector-based vaccines. Therefore, vaccination with mRNA-based vaccines might not only provide better immunological protection for the mother but also for her breast-fed infant.
Presenter of 1 Presentation
DECREASED PASSIVE IMMUNITY TO RESPIRATORY VIRUSES THROUGH HUMAN MILK DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
Abstract
Backgrounds:
Infants may develop severe viral respiratory tract infections because their immune system is still undeveloped. Human milk provides passive humoral immunity during the first months of life. During the COVID-19 pandemic, circulation of common respiratory viruses was virtually absent due to the preventative measures resulting in reduced maternal exposure. Therefore, we hypothesized that this might result in lower antibody levels in human milk during the pandemic and, subsequently, decreased protection of infants against viral respiratory tract infections.
Methods
We assessed antibody levels against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Influenza virus, and several seasonal coronaviruses in different periods of the COVID-19 pandemic in serum and human milk using a Luminex assay.
Results:
IgG levels against RSV, Influenza, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-HKU1, and HCoVNL63 in human milk were reduced with a factor of 1.7 (p<0.001), 2.2 (p<0.01), 2.6 (p<0.05), 1.4 (p<0.01), and 2.1 (p<0.001), respectively, since the introduction of the COVID-19 restrictions. Furthermore, we observed that human milk of mothers that experienced COVID-19 contained increased levels of IgG and IgA binding to other respiratory viruses.
Conclusions/Learning Points:
Passive immunity via human milk against common respiratory viruses was reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may put breastfed infants at increased risk for respiratory infections.