Prior infection by seasonal coronaviruses does not prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in children

Abstract

Background: Children have a lower rate of COVID-19, potentially related to cross-protective immunity conferred by seasonal coronaviruses (HCoVs). We tested if prior infections with seasonal coronaviruses impacted SARS-CoV-2 infections and related Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS). Methods: This cross-sectional observational study in Paris hospitals enrolled 739 pauci or asymptomatic children (HOS group) plus 36 children with suspected MIS (MIS group). Prevalence, antigen specificity and neutralizing capability of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were tested. Antibody frequency and titres against Nucleocapsid (N) and Spike (S) of the four seasonal coronaviruses (NL63, HKU1, 229E, OC43) were measured in a subset of seropositive patients (54 SARS-CoV-2 (HOS-P subgroup) and 15 MIS (MIS-P subgroup)), and in 118 matched SARS-CoV-2 seronegative patients (CTL subgroup). Findings: SARS-CoV-2 mean prevalence rate in HOSP children was 11.7% from April 1 to June 1. Neutralizing antibodies were found in 55.6% of seropositive children, and their relative frequency increased with time (up to 100 % by mid-May). A majority of MIS children (25/36) were SARS-CoV-2 seropositive, of which all tested (n=15) had neutralizing antibodies. On average, seropositive MIS children had higher N and S1 SARS-CoV-2 titres as compared to HOS children. Patients from HOS-P, MIS-P, and CTL subgroups had a similar prevalence of antibodies against the four seasonal HCoVs (66.9 -100%). The level of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was not significantly different in children who had prior seasonal coronavirus infection. Interpretation: Prior infection with HCoVs does not prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and related MIS in children. Children develop neutralizing antibodies after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity in individuals with prior seasonal coronavirus infection

“…Our findings suggest past infection with seasonal coronavirus, and thus by inference cross-reactive memory T cell immune response to SARS-CoV-2, do not provide protective immunity against subsequent infection with SARS-CoV-2 infection and also do not modulate the severity of COVID-19 in those that get infected by SARS-CoV-2. Our findings are consistent with the lack of protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with prior infection with seasonal coronavirus based on seropositivity ( Sermet et al, 2020 ). Retrospective studies with larger number of participants and prospective studies in individuals with pre-existing cross-reactive memory T cells are needed to confirm lack of protective immunity to SARS-CoV-2 or modulation of COVID-19 severity in individuals with pre-existing cross-reactive T cells to seasonal coronaviruses.…”

SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity in individuals with prior seasonal coronavirus infection

“…Our findings suggest past infection with seasonal coronavirus, and thus by inference cross-reactive memory T cell immune response to SARS-CoV-2, do not provide protective immunity against subsequent infection with SARS-CoV-2 infection and also do not modulate the severity of COVID-19 in those that get infected by SARS-CoV-2. Our findings are consistent with the lack of protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with prior infection with seasonal coronavirus based on seropositivity (7). Retrospective studies with larger number of participants and prospective studies in individuals with pre-existing cross-All rights reserved.…”

COVID-19 herd immunity: where are we?

“…However, whether these T cells can prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection or protect against severe disease remains to be determined 7 . Preliminary reports of surveys in children show no correlation between past infections with seasonal coronaviruses and susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection 8 . Clearly, no sterilizing immunity through cross-protection was evident during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, where 70% of the young adult sailors became infected before the epidemic came to a halt 9 .…”