Antibodies Against SARS-CoV-2 Do Not Cross-React with Endemic Coronaviruses in a Pediatric Population: Data from a Bangladesh Cohort

TL;DR

This study found that antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in children from Bangladesh do not cross-react with common coronaviruses, suggesting no prior immunity from endemic coronaviruses.

Contribution

The study provides new evidence that prior infection with endemic coronaviruses does not influence SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in children.

Findings

45% of children developed IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

No correlation was found between prior HCoV infection and SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels.

Anti-HCoV antibody levels remained unchanged before and after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Abstract

There is a limited understanding of the immunological differences between children and adults that protect children from developing severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Previous infection with endemic human coronaviruses (HCoVs) has been suggested as a factor. In this study, we used 100 paired residual samples collected before and during the COVID-19 pandemic from children in Bangladesh. We compared the changes in their sero-status (no COVID-19 vs. COVID-19) and quantified antibody levels to HCoVs. We found that although 45% of the children seroconverted for IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, there was no correlation between evidence of previous infection with HCoVs and the magnitude of SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses post-infection. Moreover, no differences in the anti-HCoV antibody levels were found pre- and post-SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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