Qaqish Arwa, Abbas Manal Mohammad, Alkhateeb Mohammad, Al-Tamimi Mohammad, Mustafa Minas, Al-Shudifat Abdel-Ellah, Tarawneh Shahd, Dawoud Rand, Mryyian Amel, Al-Ajaleen Mu'ath
Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan.
Department of Cellular Therapy and Applied Genomics, King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC), Amman, Jordan.
Heliyon. 2024 May 4;10(9):e30631. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30631. eCollection 2024 May 15.
It is proven that children have significantly milder COVID-19 disease compared to adults. Various immunological characteristics influence this age-related difference in protection against COVID-19. Pediatric COVID-19 in Jordan is extremely under reported.
The primary goal of this work is to identify the anti_S and anti_N antibody responses in a random group of children in Jordan and compare it to that of naturally infected-unvaccinated adults.
151 unvaccinated children, 4 days to 18 years old, were screened for anti_S and anti_N antibodies. History of COVID-19 infection or exposure to infection and symptom severity were reported by parents on a special questionnaire.
78.9 % and 65.3 % of participants were seropositive for anti_S IgG and anti_N Abs, respectively. There was a remarkable association between age and anti_S IgG and anti_N IgG antibody titers, as children aged 12 years or older had increased anti_S IgG titers (mean = 19.3 BAU/mL) compared to younger groups (means of 10.15, 9.24, 7.91 BAU/mL for age groups 6-12, 1-6, less than 1 year, respectively). Gender did not show a statistically important role in anti_S and anti_N IgG seropositivity rates or titers. Children displayed significantly elevated anti_S titers (mean = 13.23 BAU/mL) compared to naturally infected adults (mean = 9.72 BAU/mL), in contrast, adults' anti_N titers (mean = 39.64 U/mL) were significantly higher compared to those of children (mean = 10.77 U/mL).
The current work provides evidence of distinctly robust and persistent humoral immunity displayed by high anti_S and anti_N IgG in children, even >12 months post-infection. Age was the only factor that had a significant statistical impact on anti_S and anti_N Ab levels among the pediatric group in this study. Children exhibited significantly higher anti_S titers than naturally infected adults. In contrast, adults' anti_N titers were significantly higher. Such information can assist direct pediatric SARS-CoV-2 immunization programs, with implications for creating age-targeted strategies for diagnostic and population protection measures.
事实证明，与成年人相比，儿童感染新冠病毒后的症状要轻得多。多种免疫特征影响了这种与年龄相关的对新冠病毒的防护差异。约旦儿童新冠病毒感染情况的报告极少。
这项研究的主要目的是确定约旦一组随机选取的儿童中抗S和抗N抗体的反应，并将其与自然感染但未接种疫苗的成年人进行比较。
对151名年龄在4天至18岁之间未接种疫苗的儿童进行抗S和抗N抗体筛查。家长通过一份特殊问卷报告儿童的新冠病毒感染史或接触感染情况以及症状严重程度。
分别有78.9%和65.3%的参与者抗S IgG和抗N抗体血清呈阳性。年龄与抗S IgG和抗N IgG抗体滴度之间存在显著关联，12岁及以上儿童的抗S IgG滴度（平均=19.3 BAU/mL）高于较年轻组（6 - 12岁、1 - 6岁、小于1岁年龄组的平均值分别为10.15、9.24、7.91 BAU/mL）。性别在抗S和抗N IgG血清阳性率或滴度方面未显示出统计学上的重要作用。与自然感染的成年人（平均=9.72 BAU/mL）相比，儿童的抗S滴度显著升高（平均=13.23 BAU/mL），相反，成年人的抗N滴度（平均=39.64 U/mL）显著高于儿童（平均=10.77 U/mL）。
目前的研究提供了证据，表明儿童即使在感染后超过12个月，抗S和抗N IgG也显示出明显强大且持久的体液免疫。在本研究中，年龄是对儿科组抗S和抗N抗体水平有显著统计学影响的唯一因素。儿童的抗S滴度显著高于自然感染的成年人。相比之下，成年人的抗N滴度显著更高。这些信息有助于指导儿科新冠病毒免疫计划，对制定针对不同年龄的诊断和人群保护措施策略具有重要意义。
