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. 2023 Apr 14;15(4):966.
doi: 10.3390/v15040966.

Detection of IgA and IgG Antibodies against the Structural Proteins of SARS-CoV-2 in Breast Milk and Serum Samples Derived from Breastfeeding Mothers

Karen Cortés-Sarabia  1 , Vianey Guzman-Silva  1 , Karla Montserrat Martinez-Pacheco  1 , Jesús Alberto Meza-Hernández  1 , Víctor Manuel Luna-Pineda  2 , Marco Antonio Leyva-Vázquez  3 , Amalia Vences-Velázquez  1 , Fredy Omar Beltrán-Anaya  3 , Oscar Del Moral-Hernández  4 , Berenice Illades-Aguiar  2
Affiliations

Detection of IgA and IgG Antibodies against the Structural Proteins of SARS-CoV-2 in Breast Milk and Serum Samples Derived from Breastfeeding Mothers

Karen Cortés-Sarabia et al. Viruses. .

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 vaccination or natural infection is associated with the development of immunity. The search of IgA and IgG antibodies against all the structural proteins (spike, nucleocapsid, membrane, and envelope) of SARS-CoV-2 in breastfeeding mothers is associated with immunity that can help the newborn avoid development of the infection. Methods: In this study, we analyzed 30 breastfeeding women that provided samples of breast milk and serum and evaluated the presence of IgA, total IgG, and subclasses against the structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2. Results: We reported a high seroprevalence to IgA (76.67-100%) and negativity to IgG against all analyzed proteins in breast milk. Seroprevalence in serum samples was around 10-36.67% to IgA and 23.3-60% to IgG. Finally, we detected the presence of the subclasses IgG1, IgG2, and IgG4 against all the structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2. Conclusions: This work provides evidence of the presence of IgA and IgG antibodies against the four structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2 in breast milk and serum samples derived from breastfeeding women, which can confer immunity to the newborn.

Keywords: COVID-19; IgA; IgG; SARS-CoV-2; antibodies; breastfeeding; structural proteins.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
COVID-19 and related symptoms in the studied population. Heat map representing natural infection, diagnostic (RT-PCR, antigen, clinical/unknown), vaccination, number of doses (1–2 or ≥3), and symptoms related to the infection. S: sample and 1–30: designed number for each participant. Grey parts indicate the presence of the analyzed variable.
Figure 2
Figure 2
IgA and IgG seroprevalence against structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2 in breast milk and serum samples. Collected samples derived from breastfeeding women were tested against the recombinant RBD and S1 domain of the spike protein, nucleocapsid, membrane, and envelope of the SARS-CoV-2.
Figure 3
Figure 3
IgG subclasses in serum samples. IgG subclass detection in the 26 positive samples; this protocol included the use of monoclonal antibodies against each subclass (produced in mouse) and an antibody anti-mouse coupled to HRP.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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