Pediatric Immunization Advancement
Pannaraj Lab
Your Impact In Research
SAINT & HEARTS STUDY
We evaluated how well our bodies fight against COVID-19 by quantifying serum antibodies and neutralization activity in three groups of individuals exposed to the virus by getting sick, getting vaccinated, or both. We found that those who had infection and vaccination showed highest and most durable antibody levels, lasting >9 months. Simply put, the best protection against new COVID-19 infection is to get your vaccine even if you have already been infected.
Consider this scenario:
You give birth to a beautiful baby boy. You are worried about him getting the COVID-19 infection but are also not sure about the vaccine. To help mothers make informed decisions, we conducted clinical studies on breastfeeding mothers.
We found higher levels of antibodies (proteins that kill the virus) in mothers’ milk after vaccination. These antibodies also increased after receiving the booster vaccine dose. Thus, we can conclude that the COVID-19 vaccination will help protect both the mother and infant from COVID-19 infection as these antibodies will be passed from the mother to the baby through breastfeeding.
Consider this scenario:
After spending the whole day with your friends, your best friend gives you the bad news that
he just tested positive for COVID-19. Soon after, each of your friends becomes ill one by one. However, unlike any of your friends, you feel perfectly fine! You may be wondering, “Why did all of my friends get sick except me?”
We found that approximately one-third of study participants who were exposed to the COVID-19 virus but did not get infected have antibodies found in their nose that could kill off the virus. This means that individuals may be able to produce antibodies in their nose that can prevent infection from spreading throughout their whole body.
In another HEARTS and SAINT study, we compared SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies in the blood between children and adults. We found that children had higher levels of these antibodies through 6 months compared to adults following infection, vaccination, or both. Individuals of all ages who got vaccinated after infection produced higher levels of antibodies compared to those who only got infected. From these studies, we demonstrate that COVID-19 vaccination in both newly infected and recovered individuals creates the strongest immune protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in both children and adults.
PERTUSSIS STUDY
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Whooping cough is a serious, contagious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Recent studies suggest the currently administered vaccines may not provide strong or lasting protection, leading to more cases of whooping cough, even in vaccinated individuals. By studying the immune responses to whooping cough, we are now working to define new targets and develop improved pertussis vaccines that can better prevent infection and stop the spread of this dangerous disease.