Researchers at Columbia University have found that children's immune systems develop weaker and fewer antibodies. • To what extent are children protected against re-infection?
Less antibodies in children?
Photography:
Liron Moldovan
A new study from Columbia University has found that children develop fewer antibodies to corona.
Research also shows that the antibodies children develop are weaker than those developed by adults, and that their immune cells degrade faster.
The study supports the claim that children rarely get the virus severely, and that they recover faster and therefore are less contagious than adults.
Columbia University researchers analyzed immune-rich plasma cells from 79 New York children and adults who were found to be positive for the virus.
They found a consistent pattern in children that they have lower levels of antibodies to the virus because they are extremely mildly ill.
The researchers assume that despite the weak immune response in children, it is likely that they are still protected against re-infection for some time, and that the antibodies are indeed active.
The head of the research team, Dr. Donna Farber, said in an interview with the Daily Mail: "We found long-term IgG vaccine cells in children and adults, but IgM cells, which appear in a more early stage of the disease in adults, were not found in children at all.
"They develop few antibodies, and we found almost no response in them to cell and DNA fragments that entered the plasma and blood following the activity of the virus in the body."
The expert explained that the gap between adults and children is due to the fact that children's immune systems are still full of cells that have not yet specialized in a particular type of disease or virus.
This is why children's immune system is stronger and more mature to attack the virus and prevent its spread in the body with almost no problems.
"Children are born with a strong immune system, it's like a smooth page. They also come in wider contact with viruses that damage the respiratory system. 15% of these viruses are similar to the corona virus, so their body immediately and vigorously deals with the virus. This special line of defense disappears with age, Therefore, adults are less resistant to the virus. "
Dr. Farber mentioned another possibility that could explain the difference in the severity of the disease between adults and children. She says that the inflammation caused by the virus kills fewer cells in children, and therefore the damage and physical reactions to the virus are much weaker and less harmful.
Regarding the immune memory for the virus in children, the head of the research team claimed that "despite the low amount of immune cells in children, the knowledge the body has acquired remains for a long time, and it is likely that the corona virus will remain immune, as recorded by other viruses."