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Valcarce V, Stafford LS, Neu J, Parker L, Vicuna V, Cross T, D'Agati O, Diakite S, Haley A, Feigenbaum J, Al Mahmoud MY, Visvalingam A, Cacho N, Kosik I, Yewdell JW, Larkin J. COVID-19 booster enhances IgG mediated viral neutralization by human milk in vitro. Front Nutr 2024; 11:1289413. [PMID: 38406184 PMCID: PMC10884187 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1289413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Facilitated by the inability to vaccinate, and an immature immune system, COVID-19 remains a leading cause of death among children. Vaccinated lactating mothers produce specific SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in their milk, capable of neutralizing the virus in vitro. Our objective for this study is to assess the effect of COVID-19 booster dose on SARS-CoV-2 antibody concentration and viral neutralization in milk, plasma, and infant stool. Methods Thirty-nine mothers and 25 infants were enrolled from December 2020 to May 2022. Milk, maternal plasma, and infants' stool were collected at various time-points up to 12 months following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. A subgroup of 14 mothers received a booster dose. SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels and their neutralization capacities were assessed. Results Booster vaccination led to significantly higher IgG levels within human milk and breastfed infants' stool. In vitro neutralization of VSV-gfp-SARS-CoV-2-S-gp, a laboratory safe SARS-CoV-2 like pseudovirus, improved following the booster, with a 90% increase in plasma neutralization and a 60% increase in milk neutralization. We found that post-booster neutralization by human milk was highly correlated to SARS-CoV-2 IgG level. In support of our correlation result, Protein G column depletion of IgG in milk yielded a significant reduction in viral neutralization (p = 0.04). Discussion The substantial increase in neutralizing IgG levels in milk and breastfed infants' stool post-booster, coupled with the decrease in milk neutralization capabilities upon IgG depletion, underscores the efficacy of booster doses in augmenting the immune response against SARS-CoV-2 in human milk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Valcarce
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Lauren Stewart Stafford
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Josef Neu
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Leslie Parker
- College of Nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Valeria Vicuna
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Tyler Cross
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Olivia D'Agati
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Sisse Diakite
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Addison Haley
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Jake Feigenbaum
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Mahmoud Y. Al Mahmoud
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Anjali Visvalingam
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Nicole Cacho
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Ivan Kosik
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Jonathan W. Yewdell
- Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Joseph Larkin
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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Hossain S, Mihrshahi S. Exclusive Breastfeeding and Childhood Morbidity: A Narrative Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14804. [PMID: 36429518 PMCID: PMC9691199 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Globally, diarrheal diseases and acute respiratory infections are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children under 5 years old. The benefits of exclusive breastfeeding in reducing the risk of gastrointestinal and respiratory infections are well documented. Optimal breastfeeding may potentially save the lives of about 800,000 children in low-income settings. Despite the evidence, around 63% of infants from birth to 6 months are not exclusively breastfed worldwide. We searched the literature published between 2010 and 2022 in Medline, Embase, and Scopus on the association between exclusive breastfeeding and infectious diseases. We selected and reviewed 70 relevant studies. Our findings expand and confirm the positive association between exclusive breastfeeding and reduced risk of a number of gastrointestinal, respiratory, and other infections in 60 out of 70 studies observed in both low- and high-income settings. Several studies analyzing exclusive breastfeeding duration reported that a longer exclusive breastfeeding duration is protective against many infectious diseases. This review also reported a lack of standardized definition for measuring exclusive breastfeeding in many studies. Overall, the results highlight the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding in many studies and suggests reporting exclusive breastfeeding in future studies using a consistent definition to enable better monitoring of exclusive breastfeeding rates.
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Domenici R, Vierucci F. Exclusive Breastfeeding and Vitamin D Supplementation: A Positive Synergistic Effect on Prevention of Childhood Infections? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19052973. [PMID: 35270666 PMCID: PMC8910000 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19052973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Human milk is the best food for infants. Breastfeeding has been associated with a reduced risk of viral and bacterial infections. Breast milk contains the perfect amount of nutrients needed to promote infant growth, except for vitamin D. Vitamin D is crucial for calcium metabolism and bone health, and it also has extra-skeletal actions, involving innate and adaptive immunity. As exclusive breastfeeding is a risk factor for vitamin D deficiency, infants should be supplemented with vitamin D at least during the first year. The promotion of breastfeeding and vitamin D supplementation represents an important objective of public health.
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