Kids With Mild COVID-19: They Might Not Get the Antibody Boost They Need
According to a fresh Aussie study, kids who breeze through a mild COVID‑19 infection might walk away without the protective antibodies that adults usually rack up. The research team compared 57 youngsters to 51 adults who were all dealing with a mild case or a silent infection.
What the Numbers Tell Us
- Only 37 % of children developed antibodies.
- Meanwhile, 76 % of adults saw a boost.
- Both groups had similar viral loads, so the difference isn’t about how much virus they carried.
- Kids’ bodies also didn’t kick off the “second‑line” cellular immune response that adults rely on.
Lead investigator Paul Licciardi from Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne pointed out that the study, posted on medRxiv before peer review, raises big questions: Is this a feature of the Delta variant? Why do kids seem to skip the antibody step? And does this leave them more vulnerable to a second wave?
Oral COVID‑19 Booster Gets a Big Smile in Monkeys
What if getting your COVID shot didn’t require a needle? The latest innovators at Vyriad have an oral booster that’s been giving monkeys a near‑double‑digit jump in antibodies—almost a 100‑fold increase after just one week.
How It Works
- A harmless carrier virus drops the coronavirus protein onto the tongue, cheeks, and throat.
- These entry points stir the immune system to produce a defensive antibody storm before the real virus can even get a foothold.
According to Dr. Stephen Russell, the CEO, “This could be a game‑changer: it’s easier to use, more acceptable, and probably gives stronger immunity because it targets the spot where the virus first sneaks in.” No side effects were reported in the monkey trials, and Vyriad is gearing up for human tests in collaboration with the FDA.
Plants Get Their Own Shot at Vaccine Production
Imagine a vaccine grown in a plant instead of a cell culture lab. Researchers from the University of Ottawa have been cooking up a nasal spray by using Nicotiana benthamiana, a tobacco‑related plant, to produce the antigen.
Why Plants?
- Cheaper production costs.
- Lower risk of contamination.
- Robust immune response—antibodies from COVID survivors reacted to the plant‑derived antigen just like they would to a mammalian‑cell version.
Allyson MacLean, the study’s lead, notes that this nasal spray isn’t meant to replace traditional shots but to add a second layer of defense, especially useful when traveling or attending event crowds.
Takeaway
These four studies offer valuable insights—whether kids get the antibodies they need, whether we can get vaccinated over a tablet, or whether our next vaccine could be farmed in a green field. All of them highlight the rapid pace of science trying to keep us a step ahead of the virus.