tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Acta Paediatr
. 2026 Apr 4.
doi: 10.1111/apa.70532. Online ahead of print.
Signs of Cross-Reactivity Between SARS-CoV-2 and Other Coronaviruses in a Pre-Vaccine Swedish School Setting
Lina Schollin Ask[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Sharon Kühlmann Berenzon[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Ulrika Marking[SUP] 1 5 [/SUP], Sara Nouiser[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Andreas Bråve[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Sören Andersson[SUP] 1 7 [/SUP], Charlotta Nordenhäll[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Tobias Alfvén[SUP] 3 8 [/SUP], Teghesti Tecleab[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Olof Hertting[SUP] 2 9 [/SUP], Tyler Sandberg[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Wanda Christ[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Jonas Klingström[SUP] 6 12 [/SUP], Kim Blom[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Charlotta Nilsson[SUP] 6 13 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Aim: This pilot study explored signs of immunological cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 and human coronaviruses (HCoVs) in a Swedish school setting.
Methods: A cross-sectional, hypothesis-generating study was conducted late 2020 before vaccines against COVID-19 were available. Forty-seven 7-8-year-old children, seventy-five 14-year-old adolescents, fifty-four 17-year-old adolescents, and 52 adult school staff were included, and immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 and HCoVs were assessed.
Results: The SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was high in the older age groups (33%-41%). Seropositive individuals had significantly higher levels of antibodies against betacorona virus compared to seronegative individuals. SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity was rare among the 7-8-year-old children despite the high endemic context. SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell responses in the absence of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies were seen in all age groups.
Conclusion: The data support a role for cross-reactive immune responses induced by recent HCoV infections, with cross-reactive T-cell responses providing protection against COVID-19 in young children.
Keywords: COVID‐19; SARS‐CoV‐2; children; immune response; school.
. 2026 Apr 4.
doi: 10.1111/apa.70532. Online ahead of print.
Signs of Cross-Reactivity Between SARS-CoV-2 and Other Coronaviruses in a Pre-Vaccine Swedish School Setting
Lina Schollin Ask[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Sharon Kühlmann Berenzon[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Ulrika Marking[SUP] 1 5 [/SUP], Sara Nouiser[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Andreas Bråve[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Sören Andersson[SUP] 1 7 [/SUP], Charlotta Nordenhäll[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Tobias Alfvén[SUP] 3 8 [/SUP], Teghesti Tecleab[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Olof Hertting[SUP] 2 9 [/SUP], Tyler Sandberg[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Wanda Christ[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Jonas Klingström[SUP] 6 12 [/SUP], Kim Blom[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Charlotta Nilsson[SUP] 6 13 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 41934365
- DOI: 10.1111/apa.70532
Aim: This pilot study explored signs of immunological cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 and human coronaviruses (HCoVs) in a Swedish school setting.
Methods: A cross-sectional, hypothesis-generating study was conducted late 2020 before vaccines against COVID-19 were available. Forty-seven 7-8-year-old children, seventy-five 14-year-old adolescents, fifty-four 17-year-old adolescents, and 52 adult school staff were included, and immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 and HCoVs were assessed.
Results: The SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was high in the older age groups (33%-41%). Seropositive individuals had significantly higher levels of antibodies against betacorona virus compared to seronegative individuals. SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity was rare among the 7-8-year-old children despite the high endemic context. SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell responses in the absence of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies were seen in all age groups.
Conclusion: The data support a role for cross-reactive immune responses induced by recent HCoV infections, with cross-reactive T-cell responses providing protection against COVID-19 in young children.
Keywords: COVID‐19; SARS‐CoV‐2; children; immune response; school.