COVID-19 vaccines are not approved for infants, but breast milk may be an alternative way to receive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies.
Now, a new medRxiv* preprint study finds mothers vaccinated either one of the messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines transferred neutralizing antibodies and cytokines, including interferon-gamma (IFNγ), to a breastfeeding child. Additionally, the humoral response in breastmilk was effective in neutralizing four variants of concern.
The study’s results suggest SARS-CoV-2 antibodies through breastmilk may help infants develop passive immunity against the virus.
This news article was a review of a preliminary scientific report that had not undergone peer-review at the time of publication. Since its initial publication, the scientific report has now been peer reviewed and accepted for publication in a Scientific Journal. Links to the preliminary and peer-reviewed reports are available in the Sources section at the bottom of this article. View Sources
How they did it
The researchers measured immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) neutralizing antibody responses in breastmilk before and after vaccination. They also assessed any changes in cytokine levels in breastmilk.
Stool samples of infants were collected to measure IgA and IgG antibody levels.
The study enrolled 30 women who were lactating and who either received an mRNA-based vaccine or were scheduled to get it (20 received Pfizer-BioNTech, 10 received Moderna). About 27 women self-identified as White, 1 as Black, and 2 as Asian. The study population ranged from 26 to 46 years, and infants ranged from 7 days to 21.7 months.
Of the 30 women, 3 had recovered from a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Participants froze breastmilk samples at several time points after vaccination and donated them to UMass Amherst for analysis. Breast milk samples two days before their first dose were also collected.
Blood samples on sample cards were collected 19 days after the first dose and 21 days after the second dose.
Participants also donated their infants’ stool samples 21 days after they received their second vaccine dose.
To study changes in breast milk after vaccination, the researchers measured antibody levels from donated breast milk and blood samples from a different study before the pandemic. Additionally, the researchers collected stool samples from 6 breastfed children during August 2019.
.jpg "Antibody levels in serial milk samples following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. Milk samples were obtained prior to the first dose (timepoint 0), across 19-23 days after the first dose and across 19-23 days after the second dose (vertical dashed line) from 30 women vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. Whey fractions were assessed with ELISA for RBD-specific IgG (A and B) and IgA (C and D). Colored lines indicate serial milk samples obtained from 3 women who had a previous positive diagnosis for COVID-19. Horizontal dotted lines indicate the positive cut-off values.")
Antibody levels in serial milk samples following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. Milk samples were obtained prior to the first dose (timepoint 0), across 19-23 days after the first dose and across 19-23 days after the second dose (vertical dashed line) from 30 women vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. Whey fractions were assessed with ELISA for RBD-specific IgG (A and B) and IgA (C and D). Colored lines indicate serial milk samples obtained from 3 women who had a previous positive diagnosis for COVID-19. Horizontal dotted lines indicate the positive cut-off values.
Side effects from vaccination reported in both mother and child
Vaccine side effects were observed after the first and second vaccine doses, but most side effects occurred after the second.
Women frequently reported vaccine-related fevers (27%), aches (27%), tiredness (37%), or headaches (30%) after the second dose. However, about 73% of mothers reported that their child had no vaccine-related side effects. If there were, it was either fever and/or a runny nose.
IgA and IgG antibody levels found in breastmilk and serum
Two weeks after the second dose, 26/30 breast milk samples showed detectable levels of IgG antibodies specific for the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain.
About 3 of 20 women showed a two- to four-fold increase in IgG antibody levels in their breastmilk after their first Pfizer-BioNTech dose. Conversely, women administered Moderna did not show signs of antibodies until after the second vaccine dose.
About 14 women had their breastmilk tested positive for IgA antibodies.
Irrespective of the infants’ age, breastmilk showed similar IgA and IgG antibody levels.
In one woman who had recovered from a COVID-19 infection before the study, IgA levels were already high and consistently high after vaccination. However, the woman’s IgG levels showed a 2-fold increase 10 days after receiving her first Pfizer-BioNTech dose.
An increase in IgG — but not IgA — levels was observed from the donated blood samples of vaccinated women.
Neutralizing antibodies in breastmilk blocks SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding with ACE2
Neutralizing antibodies detected in breastmilk samples were exposed to four variants of concern: D614G, alpha, beta, and gamma.
Breastmilk from 3 weeks after the second dose successfully blocked ACE2-spike protein binding. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding from all four SARS-CoV-2 variants was also inhibited. However, the researchers note there was limited ACE2 binding inhibition against the Beta variant.
Neutralizing activity against D614G, Alpha, and Gamma was significantly associated with IgG levels in breastmilk. Neutralization was unaffected by a baby’s age.
SARS-CoV-2 antibodies detected in infant stool samples
Transfer of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies from breastmilk to the infant was confirmed through stool samples. The researchers detected 30% of IgA antibodies and 33% of IgG antibodies targeting the receptor-binding domain in infants as young as 55 days and as old as 11 months.
IgG antibody levels were higher in stool samples when mothers experienced more vaccine side effects.
Increase cytokines levels in breastmilk of vaccinated women who experienced side effects
All breastmilk samples tested positive for the following cytokines: IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, IL-1β, IFN-γ, and TNF-α.
IFN-γ levels were significantly higher in breastmilk after vaccination than before immunization.
Women who experienced more vaccine side-effects showed higher IFN-γ levels than those who did not. Specifically, women who reported no side effects showed a 2-fold increase after the first dose and a 3-fold increase after the second dose.
In contrast, women who reported side effects showed a 2.5-fold increase in IFN-γ and a 20-fold increase after the second dose.
This news article was a review of a preliminary scientific report that had not undergone peer-review at the time of publication. Since its initial publication, the scientific report has now been peer reviewed and accepted for publication in a Scientific Journal. Links to the preliminary and peer-reviewed reports are available in the Sources section at the bottom of this article. View Sources
Article Revisions
- Apr 29 2023 - The preprint preliminary research paper that this article was based upon was accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed Scientific Journal. This article was edited accordingly to include a link to the final peer-reviewed paper, now shown in the sources section.
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