The Rebeca Powell Laboratory forms part of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York. Their work probes antibodies in mothers’ milk against HIV, Seasonal Influenza, and COVID-19. They have discovered mothers’ breast milk antibodies remain active for 10 months after COVID infection. They wondered whether they could also use these to treat patients with severe symptoms.
The Coronavirus Has Begun Infecting Infants
Older people with underlying health conditions are still at greatest risk of severe COVID-19. However, The Guardian points out ‘one in 10 infants under the age of one will require significant hospital care, if they become infected with the coronavirus disease.’
It’s likely the pandemic will be with us until we agree a universal way to stop it spreading. ‘This is the breastfeeding population,’ Dr. Rebecca Powell explains. ‘So knowing if there are antibodies in the milk, and how long they’ll protect is very important information.’
More About COVID-19 Breast Milk Antibodies
Breast milk antibodies are different from the Immunoglobulin G ones our vaccines propagate in our blood. Although milk may also secrete them. A previously-infected mother’s milk is more likely to contain Immunoglobulin A, which adheres to the lining of babies’ respiratory and intestinal tracts.
This means they are in better position to counter viruses and bacteria from entering infants’ bodies. Dr. Rebecca Powell took samples from 75 women with past COVID infections. She found 88% contained Immunoglobulin A antibodies. And these were capable of neutralizing the Sars-CoV-2 virus, and fighting the disease too.
However, she expects the Immunoglobulin A antibodies could also help severely ill adults too. ‘It could be an incredible therapy,’ Powell hopes. ‘Because they are meant to be in mucosal areas, such as the lining of the respiratory tract. And they survive and function very well there.’
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