Antibodies to Seasonal Coronaviruses Rarely Cross-React With SARS-CoV-2: Findings From an African Birth Cohort

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2021 Dec 1;40(12):e516-e519. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000003325.

Abstract

Antibodies to seasonal human-coronaviruses (sHCoV) may cross-protect against SARS-CoV-2. We investigated antibody responses in biobanked serum obtained before the pandemic from infants with polymerase chain reaction-confirmed sHCoV. Among 141 samples with antibodies to sHCoV, 4 (2.8%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2-S1 and 8 (5.7%) for SARS-CoV-2-S2. Antibodies to sHCoV rarely cross-react with SARS-CoV-2 antigens and are unlikely to account for mild pediatric illness.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology*
  • Birth Cohort
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / immunology*
  • COVID-19 / virology*
  • Coronavirus / immunology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology*
  • Cross Reactions
  • Humans
  • Pneumonia, Viral
  • SARS-CoV-2 / immunology*
  • Seasons*
  • South Africa / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral