High antibody levels and reduced cellular response in children up to one year after SARS-CoV-2 infection

Eva-Maria Jacobsen, Dorit Fabricius, Magdalena Class, Fernando Topfstedt, Raquel Lorenzetti, Iga Janowska, Franziska Schmidt, Julian Staniek, Maria Zernickel, Thomas Stamminger, Andrea N. Dietz, Angela Zellmer, Manuel Hecht, Peter Rauch, Carmen Blum, Carolin Ludwig, Bernd Jahrsdörfer, Hubert Schrezenmeier, Maximilian Heeg, Benjamin Mayer, Alina Seidel, Rüdiger Groß, Jan Münch, Frank Kirchhoff, Sebastian F. N. Bode, Gudrun Strauss, Hanna Renk, Roland Elling, Maximillian Stich, Reinhard E. Voll, Burkhard Tönshof, Axel R. Franz, Philipp Henneke, Klaus-Michael Debatin, Marta Rizzi () and Ales Janda ()
Additional contact information
Eva-Maria Jacobsen: Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm University
Dorit Fabricius: Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm University
Magdalena Class: Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm University
Fernando Topfstedt: Medical Center University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg
Raquel Lorenzetti: Medical Center University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg
Iga Janowska: Medical Center University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg
Franziska Schmidt: Medical Center University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg
Julian Staniek: Medical Center University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg
Maria Zernickel: Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm University
Thomas Stamminger: Ulm University Medical Center
Andrea N. Dietz: Ulm University Medical Center
Angela Zellmer: CANDOR Bioscience GmbH
Manuel Hecht: CANDOR Bioscience GmbH
Peter Rauch: CANDOR Bioscience GmbH
Carmen Blum: Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm University
Carolin Ludwig: Ulm University
Bernd Jahrsdörfer: Ulm University
Hubert Schrezenmeier: Ulm University
Maximilian Heeg: Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg
Benjamin Mayer: University of Ulm
Alina Seidel: Ulm University Medical Center
Rüdiger Groß: Ulm University Medical Center
Jan Münch: Ulm University Medical Center
Frank Kirchhoff: Ulm University Medical Center
Sebastian F. N. Bode: Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm University
Gudrun Strauss: Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm University
Hanna Renk: University Children’s Hospital Tuebingen
Roland Elling: Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg
Maximillian Stich: University Children’s Hospital Heidelberg
Reinhard E. Voll: Medical Center University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg
Burkhard Tönshof: University Children’s Hospital Heidelberg
Axel R. Franz: University Children’s Hospital Tuebingen
Philipp Henneke: Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg
Klaus-Michael Debatin: Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm University
Marta Rizzi: Medical Center University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg
Ales Janda: Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm University

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Abstract The COVID-19 course and immunity differ in children and adults. We analyzed immune response dynamics in 28 families up to 12 months after mild or asymptomatic infection. Unlike adults, the initial response is plasmablast-driven in children. Four months after infection, children show an enhanced specific antibody response and lower but detectable spike 1 protein (S1)-specific B and T cell responses than their parents. While specific antibodies decline, neutralizing antibody activity and breadth increase in both groups. The frequencies of S1-specific B and T cell responses remain stable. However, in children, one year after infection, an increase in the S1-specific IgA class switch and the expression of CD27 on S1-specific B cells and T cell maturation are observed. These results, together with the enhanced neutralizing potential and breadth of the specific antibodies, suggest a progressive maturation of the S1-specific immune response. Hence, the immune response in children persists over 12 months but dynamically changes in quality, with progressive neutralizing, breadth, and memory maturation. This implies a benefit for booster vaccination in children to consolidate memory formation.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35055-1

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