Human Milk Antibodies Against SARS-CoV-2: A Longitudinal Follow-Up Study

Hannah G. Juncker; M. Romijn; Veerle N. Loth; Tom G. Caniels; Christianne J.M. de Groot; Dasja Pajkrt; Marit J. van Gils; Johannes B. van Goudoever; Britt J. van Keulen

doi:10.1177/08903344211030171

Human Milk Antibodies Against SARS-CoV-2: A Longitudinal Follow-Up Study

Hannah G. Juncker, M. Romijn, Veerle N. Loth, Tom G. Caniels, Christianne J.M. de Groot, Dasja Pajkrt, Marit J. van Gils, Johannes B. van Goudoever^*, Britt J. van Keulen

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Background: Human milk contains antibodies against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) following Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). These antibodies may serve as protection against COVID-19 in infants. However, the evolution of these human milk antibodies over time is unclear. Research Aim: To elucidate the evolution of immunoglobulin A (IgA) against SARS-CoV-2 in human milk after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This longitudinal follow-up study included lactating mothers (N = 24) who had participated in the COVID MILK study. To assess the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, serum and human milk samples were collected 14–143 days after the onset of clinical symptoms related to COVID-19. Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay was used to detect antibodies against the ectodomain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Results: SARS-CoV-2 antibodies remain present up to 5 months (143 days) in human milk after onset of COVID-19 symptoms. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 IgA in human milk seems to gradually decrease over time. Conclusion: Human milk from SARS-CoV-2 convalescent lactating mothers contains specific IgA antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein up to at least 5 months post-infection. Passive viral immunity can be transferred via human milk and may serve as protection for infants against COVID-19.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	485-491
Number of pages	7
Journal	Journal of Human Lactation
Volume	37
Issue number	3
Early online date	2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/08903344211030171
Publication status	Published - Aug 2021

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@article{ef7857dbebf44170ab317ce754fd9e63,

title = "Human Milk Antibodies Against SARS-CoV-2: A Longitudinal Follow-Up Study",

abstract = "Background: Human milk contains antibodies against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) following Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). These antibodies may serve as protection against COVID-19 in infants. However, the evolution of these human milk antibodies over time is unclear. Research Aim: To elucidate the evolution of immunoglobulin A (IgA) against SARS-CoV-2 in human milk after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This longitudinal follow-up study included lactating mothers (N = 24) who had participated in the COVID MILK study. To assess the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, serum and human milk samples were collected 14–143 days after the onset of clinical symptoms related to COVID-19. Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay was used to detect antibodies against the ectodomain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Results: SARS-CoV-2 antibodies remain present up to 5 months (143 days) in human milk after onset of COVID-19 symptoms. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 IgA in human milk seems to gradually decrease over time. Conclusion: Human milk from SARS-CoV-2 convalescent lactating mothers contains specific IgA antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein up to at least 5 months post-infection. Passive viral immunity can be transferred via human milk and may serve as protection for infants against COVID-19.",

keywords = "COVID-19, breastfeeding, coronavirus, immunoglobulins, lactation, mother{\textquoteright}s own milk, secretory IgA",

author = "Juncker, {Hannah G.} and M. Romijn and Loth, {Veerle N.} and Caniels, {Tom G.} and {de Groot}, {Christianne J.M.} and Dasja Pajkrt and {van Gils}, {Marit J.} and {van Goudoever}, {Johannes B.} and {van Keulen}, {Britt J.}",

note = "Funding Information: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was funded by Stichting Steun Emma Kinderziekenhuis. MJvG acknowledges the Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute for funding this work through the COVID-19 grant (24175). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2021. Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

year = "2021",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1177/08903344211030171",

language = "English",

volume = "37",

pages = "485--491",

journal = "Journal of Human Lactation",

issn = "0890-3344",

publisher = "SAGE Publications Inc.",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Human Milk Antibodies Against SARS-CoV-2

T2 - A Longitudinal Follow-Up Study

AU - Juncker, Hannah G.

AU - Romijn, M.

AU - Loth, Veerle N.

AU - Caniels, Tom G.

AU - de Groot, Christianne J.M.

AU - Pajkrt, Dasja

AU - van Gils, Marit J.

AU - van Goudoever, Johannes B.

AU - van Keulen, Britt J.

N1 - Funding Information: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was funded by Stichting Steun Emma Kinderziekenhuis. MJvG acknowledges the Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute for funding this work through the COVID-19 grant (24175). Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2021. Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2021/8

Y1 - 2021/8

N2 - Background: Human milk contains antibodies against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) following Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). These antibodies may serve as protection against COVID-19 in infants. However, the evolution of these human milk antibodies over time is unclear. Research Aim: To elucidate the evolution of immunoglobulin A (IgA) against SARS-CoV-2 in human milk after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This longitudinal follow-up study included lactating mothers (N = 24) who had participated in the COVID MILK study. To assess the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, serum and human milk samples were collected 14–143 days after the onset of clinical symptoms related to COVID-19. Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay was used to detect antibodies against the ectodomain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Results: SARS-CoV-2 antibodies remain present up to 5 months (143 days) in human milk after onset of COVID-19 symptoms. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 IgA in human milk seems to gradually decrease over time. Conclusion: Human milk from SARS-CoV-2 convalescent lactating mothers contains specific IgA antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein up to at least 5 months post-infection. Passive viral immunity can be transferred via human milk and may serve as protection for infants against COVID-19.

AB - Background: Human milk contains antibodies against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) following Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). These antibodies may serve as protection against COVID-19 in infants. However, the evolution of these human milk antibodies over time is unclear. Research Aim: To elucidate the evolution of immunoglobulin A (IgA) against SARS-CoV-2 in human milk after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This longitudinal follow-up study included lactating mothers (N = 24) who had participated in the COVID MILK study. To assess the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, serum and human milk samples were collected 14–143 days after the onset of clinical symptoms related to COVID-19. Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay was used to detect antibodies against the ectodomain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Results: SARS-CoV-2 antibodies remain present up to 5 months (143 days) in human milk after onset of COVID-19 symptoms. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 IgA in human milk seems to gradually decrease over time. Conclusion: Human milk from SARS-CoV-2 convalescent lactating mothers contains specific IgA antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein up to at least 5 months post-infection. Passive viral immunity can be transferred via human milk and may serve as protection for infants against COVID-19.

KW - COVID-19

KW - breastfeeding

KW - coronavirus

KW - immunoglobulins

KW - lactation

KW - mother’s own milk

KW - secretory IgA

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85111423406&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/08903344211030171

DO - 10.1177/08903344211030171

M3 - Article

C2 - 34308720

VL - 37

SP - 485

EP - 491

JO - Journal of Human Lactation

JF - Journal of Human Lactation

SN - 0890-3344

IS - 3

ER -

Human Milk Antibodies Against SARS-CoV-2: A Longitudinal Follow-Up Study

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