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VIROLOGICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL FEATURES OF SARS-COV-2 INFECTED CHILDREN WITH DISTINCT SYMPTOMATOLOGY
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  • Nicola Cotugno,
  • Alessandra Ruggiero,
  • Giuseppe Pascucci,
  • Francesco Bonfante,
  • Maria Petrara,
  • Sonia Zicari,
  • Loredana Cifaldi,
  • Paola Zangari,
  • Stefania Bernardi,
  • Laura Cursi,
  • Chiara Medri,
  • Veronica Santilli,
  • Emma Manno,
  • Donato Amodio,
  • Giulia Linardos,
  • Livia Piccioni,
  • Maria Barbieri,
  • Daniela Perrotta,
  • Andrea Campana,
  • Daniele Donà,
  • Carlo Giaquinto,
  • Cactus Study Team,
  • Carlo Concato,
  • Petter Brodin,
  • Paolo Rossi,
  • Anita De Rossi,
  • Paolo Palma
Nicola Cotugno
Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Alessandra Ruggiero
Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital
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Giuseppe Pascucci
Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital
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Francesco Bonfante
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie
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Maria Petrara
University of Padova Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
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Sonia Zicari
Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital
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Loredana Cifaldi
University of Rome Tor Vergata
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Paola Zangari
Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital
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Stefania Bernardi
Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital
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Laura Cursi
Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital
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Chiara Medri
Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital
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Veronica Santilli
Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital
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Emma Manno
Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital
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Donato Amodio
Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital
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Giulia Linardos
Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital
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Livia Piccioni
Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital
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Maria Barbieri
Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital
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Daniela Perrotta
Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital
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Andrea Campana
Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital
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Daniele Donà
University of Padova Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
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Carlo Giaquinto
University of Padova Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
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Cactus Study Team
Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital
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Carlo Concato
Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital
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Petter Brodin
Karolinska Institute
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Paolo Rossi
Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital
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Anita De Rossi
University of Padova Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
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Paolo Palma
Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite SARS-CoV-2 immunizations have started in most countries, children are not currently included in the vaccination programs, thus it remains crucial to define their anti-SARS-CoV-2 immune response in order to minimize the risk for other epidemic waves. This study seeks to provide a description of the virology ad anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunity in children with distinct symptomatology. METHODS: Between March and July 2020, we recruited 15 SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatic (AS) and 51 symptomatic children (SY), stratified according to WHO clinical classification. We measured SARS-CoV-2 viral load using ddPCR and qPCR in longitudinally collected nasopharyngeal swabs samples. To define anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies we measured neutralization activity and total IgG load (Diasorin). We also evaluated antigen-specific B and CD8+T-cells, using a labelled S1+S2 protein and ICAM expression, respectively. Plasma protein profiling was performed with Olink. RESULTS: Virological profiling showed that AS had lower viral load at diagnosis (p=0.004) and faster virus clearance (p=0.0002) compared to SY. Anti-SARS CoV-2 humoral and cellular response did not appear to be associated with the presence of symptoms. AS and SY showed similar titers of SARS-CoV-2 IgG, levels of neutralizing activity, and frequency of Ag-specific B and CD8+T-cells. Whereas pro-inflammatory plasma protein profile was associated to symptomatology. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 humoral and cellular response with any regards to symptomatology, suggesting the ability of both SY and AS to contribute towards herd immunity. The virological profiling of AS suggested that they have lower virus load associated with faster virus clearance.
11 Mar 2021Submitted to Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
16 Mar 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
15 Apr 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
16 Apr 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
20 May 20211st Revision Received
22 May 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
28 May 2021Editorial Decision: Accept
Nov 2021Published in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology volume 32 issue 8 on pages 1833-1842. 10.1111/pai.13585