Asymptomatic or mild symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection elicits durable neutralizing antibody responses in children and adolescents.

As SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread globally, questions have emerged regarding the strength and durability of immune responses in specific populations. In this study, we evaluated humoral immune responses in 69 children and adolescents with asymptomatic or mild symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. We detected robust IgM, IgG, and IgA antibody responses to a broad array of SARS-CoV-2 antigens at the time of acute infection and 2 and 4 months after acute infection in all participants. Notably, these antibody responses were associated with virus-neutralizing activity that was still detectable 4 months after acute infection in 94% of children. Moreover, antibody responses and neutralizing activity in sera from children and adolescents were comparable or superior to those observed in sera from 24 adults with mild symptomatic infection. Taken together, these findings indicate that children and adolescents with mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection generate robust and durable humoral immune responses that can likely contribute to protection from reinfection.

Duke Scholars

Author Jillian Hurst Pediatrics, Children's Health Discovery Institute

Author Debra Lugo Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases

Author Alexandre Tellechea Rotta Pediatrics, Critical Care Medicine

Author Nicholas Turner Medicine, Infectious Diseases

Author Micah Thomas McClain Medicine, Infectious Diseases

Author Sallie Robey Permar Pathology

Author Michael Anthony Moody Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases

Author Christopher Wildrick Woods Medicine, Infectious Diseases

Author Matthew Kelly Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases