Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Immunological imprinting of humoral immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in children

  • Alexander C. Dowell
  • , Tara Lancaster
  • , Rachel Bruton
  • , Georgina Ireland
  • , Christopher Bentley
  • , Panagiota Sylla
  • , Jianmin Zuo
  • , Sam Scott
  • , Azar Jadir
  • , Jusnara Begum
  • , Thomas Roberts
  • , Christine Stephens
  • , Shabana Ditta
  • , Rebecca Shepherdson
  • , Annabel A. Powell
  • , Andrew J. Brent
  • , Bernadette Brent
  • , Frances Baawuah
  • , Ifeanyichukwu Okike
  • , Joanne Beckmann
  • Shazaad Ahmad, Felicity Aiano, Joanna Garstang, Mary E. Ramsay, Rafaq Azad, Dagmar Waiblinger, Brian Willett, John Wright, Shamez N. Ladhani*, Paul Moss*
*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

60 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 are globally dominant and infection rates are very high in children. We measure immune responses following Omicron BA.1/2 infection in children aged 6-14 years and relate this to prior and subsequent SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination. Primary Omicron infection elicits a weak antibody response with poor functional neutralizing antibodies. Subsequent Omicron reinfection or COVID-19 vaccination elicits increased antibody titres with broad neutralisation of Omicron subvariants. Prior pre-Omicron SARS-CoV-2 virus infection or vaccination primes for robust antibody responses following Omicron infection but these remain primarily focussed against ancestral variants. Primary Omicron infection thus elicits a weak antibody response in children which is boosted after reinfection or vaccination. Cellular responses are robust and broadly equivalent in all groups, providing protection against severe disease irrespective of SARS-CoV-2 variant. Immunological imprinting is likely to act as an important determinant of long-term humoral immunity, the future clinical importance of which is unknown.
Original languageEnglish
Article number3845
Number of pages9
JournalNature Communications
Volume14
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 Jun 2023

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Immunological imprinting of humoral immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in children'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this