Antibodies against Covid-19 have been found in the breast milk of infected women.
- Of the 15 cases studied, 80% of the mother’s milk presented IgA antibodies. 67% of samples also contained IgM and/or IgG antibodies.
- This discovery could potentially be exploited in the development of a treatment against Covid-19.
Women who have been infected with Covid-19 have antibodies against the virus in their breast milk, according to a new study published in iScience. “Overall, our data indicate that a robust immune response against SARS-cov-2 in breast milk after infection is to be expected in a significant majority of women,” write the scientists.
Many types of antibodies
To determine whether mothers had anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in their breast milk, the researchers studied 15 profiles of women and the different types of antibodies present in their breast milk after infection.
The human body produces many types of antibodies in the presence of a bacterial or viral infection. IgA antibodies are present in the airways, within our mucus, to immediately combat any invading pathogens. IgM or IgG antibodies are mainly found in the blood and are produced in response to an infection.
Development of a treatment against Covid-19?
Of the 15 cases studied, 80% of the mother’s milk presented IgA antibodies. 67% of samples also contained IgM and/or IgG antibodies. These results are consistent with previous research, which found anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in newborns of previously infected mothers.
Researchers do not yet know whether antibodies in mother’s breast milk confer immunity to the child against Covid-19, but their discovery could potentially be used in the development of a treatment for the coronavirus.
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