Background Prospective, longitudinal SARS-CoV-2 sero-surveillance in schools across England was initiated after the first national lockdown, allowing comparison of child and adult antibody responses over time. Methods Prospective active serological surveillance in 46 primary schools in England tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies during June, July and December 2020. Samples were tested for nucleocapsid (N) and receptor binding domain (RBD) antibodies, to estimate antibody persistence at least 6 months after infection, and for the correlation of N, RBD and live virus neutralising activity. Findings In June 2020, 1,344 staff and 835 students were tested. Overall, 11.5% (95%CI: 9.4–13.9) and 11.3% (95%CI: 9.2–13.6; p = 0.88) of students had nucleoprotein and RBD antibodies, compared to 15.6% (95%CI: 13.7–17.6) and 15.3% (95%CI: 13.4–17.3; p = 0.83) of staff. Live virus neutralising activity was detected in 79.8% ( n = 71/89) of nucleocapsid and 85.5% (71/83) of RBD antibody positive children. RBD antibodies correlated more strongly with neutralising antibodies (rs=0.7527; p <0.0001) than nucleocapsid antibodies (rs=0.3698; p <0.0001). A median of 24.4 weeks later, 58.2% (107/184) participants had nucleocapsid antibody seroreversion, compared to 20.9% (33/158) for RBD ( p <0.001). Similar seroreversion rates were observed between staff and students for nucleocapsid ( p = 0.26) and RBD-antibodies ( p = 0.43). Nucleocapsid and RBD antibody quantitative results were significantly lower in staff compared to students ( p = 0.028 and <0.0001 respectively) at baseline, but not at 24 weeks ( p = 0.16 and p = 0.37, respectively). Interpretation The immune response in children following SARS-CoV-2 infection was robust and sustained (>6 months) but further work is required to understand the extent to which this protects against reinfection.
【저자키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, antibody, School, 【초록키워드】 antibodies, immune response, lockdown, SARS-COV-2 infection, children, Antibody Response, Infection, virus, Receptor binding domain, Reinfection, SARS-CoV-2 antibody, nucleocapsid, RBD, persistence, neutralising antibody, Prospective, serological surveillance, correlation, England, Quantitative, Live virus, Neutralising activity, participant, finding, National, positive, significantly lower, robust, PROTECT, tested, Sample, required, median, correlated, initiated, sustained, baseline, RBD-antibody, 【제목키워드】 persistence, Prospective, Active surveillance, England, Neutralising activity,