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A study involving iNEXT-Discovery Partner UNL reveals SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and immune cells in breast milk.
Infants are frequently heavily affected by COVID-19, but lactating women were initially advised to discontinue breastfeeding after mRNA vaccination. Now, a Portuguese research team including Diogo Athayde and Margarida Archer from ITQB NOVA (i.e. iNEXT-Discovery partner UNL) show that breast milk can in fact protect breastfeeding children, since it contains specific antibodies and spike-reactive T cells.
In their recent Cell Reports Medicine paper, the authors summarize their exciting findings as follows:
“An infants’ immature immune system relies on the mother’s breastmilk. To gain more insight in SARS-CoV-2 immunity transfer from lactating women to their children, we have collected and carefully analyzed blood and breast milk samples of lactating women before and after receiving their first and second dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. We were able to detect and characterize specific antibodies as well as spike-reactive T cells in breast milk of vaccinated lactating women. Apparently, the secretory antibodies in mother’s milk possess a component that allows them to survive the harsh conditions of infant’s stomach and successfully reach its immune system. In addition, breast milk also transfers immunity through spike-reactive T cells upon vaccination, which are capable of identifying SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins and trigger an immune reaction. In infants, such T cells are crucial in mediating vaccine protection, and it has been postulated that they protect the baby by setting in the upper respiratory tract and gut. T cells remain in the system for a long time, suggesting that this transferred protection remains in the infant body after weaning.”
