The anti-COVID-19 intramuscular vaccination induces a strong systemic but a weak mucosal immune response in adults. Little is known about the mucosal immune response in children infected or vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. We found that 28% of children had detectable salivary IgA against SARS-CoV-2 even before vaccination, suggesting that, in children, SARS-CoV-2 infection may be undiagnosed. After vaccination, only receptor-binding domain (RBD)–specific IgA1 significantly increased in the saliva. Conversely, infected children had significantly higher salivary RBD-IgA2 compared to IgA1, indicating that infection more than vaccination induces a specific mucosal immune response in children. Future efforts should focus on development of vaccine technologies that also activate mucosal immunity.
SARS-CoV-2–specific mucosal immune response in vaccinated versus infected children / Conti, Maria Giulia; Piano Mortari, Eva; Nenna, Raffaella; Pierangeli, Alessandra; Sorrentino, Leonardo; Frasca, Federica; Petrarca, Laura; Mancino, Enrica; Di Mattia, Greta; Matera, Luigi; Fracella, Matteo; Albano, Christian; Scagnolari, Carolina; Capponi, Martina; Cinicola, Bianca; Carsetti, Rita; Midulla, Fabio. - In: FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY. - ISSN 2235-2988. - 14:(2024). [10.3389/fcimb.2024.1231697]
SARS-CoV-2–specific mucosal immune response in vaccinated versus infected children
Conti, Maria Giulia
Primo
;Piano Mortari, Eva;Nenna, Raffaella;Pierangeli, Alessandra;Sorrentino, Leonardo;Frasca, Federica;Petrarca, Laura;Mancino, Enrica;Di Mattia, Greta;Matera, Luigi;Fracella, Matteo;Scagnolari, Carolina;Capponi, Martina;Cinicola, Bianca;Midulla, FabioUltimo
2024
Abstract
The anti-COVID-19 intramuscular vaccination induces a strong systemic but a weak mucosal immune response in adults. Little is known about the mucosal immune response in children infected or vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. We found that 28% of children had detectable salivary IgA against SARS-CoV-2 even before vaccination, suggesting that, in children, SARS-CoV-2 infection may be undiagnosed. After vaccination, only receptor-binding domain (RBD)–specific IgA1 significantly increased in the saliva. Conversely, infected children had significantly higher salivary RBD-IgA2 compared to IgA1, indicating that infection more than vaccination induces a specific mucosal immune response in children. Future efforts should focus on development of vaccine technologies that also activate mucosal immunity.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
