SARS-CoV-2 anti-RBD immune response in breast milk from puerperal women vaccinated with Abdala
Keywords:
Abdala vaccine; IgA; IgG; neutralizing antibodies; SARS-CoV-2Abstract
Introduction: The immune response generated in breast milk by protein subunit anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, such as Abdala, was unknown.
Objective: To analyze the anti-RBD antibody response of SARS-CoV-2 in breast milk samples from postpartum women, 5 and 9 weeks after three doses of Abdala, and from unvaccinated but infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Methods: A single-center analytical observational study was carried out to semi-quantify by titration the anti-RBD IgA and IgG antibodies of the Wuhan-Hu-1 strain and the Omicron BA.5 variant, in breast milk at both post-vaccination times. The neutralizing antibody titers in vaccinated women were evaluated and compared with those generated by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Neutralizing antibody titers were correlated to the presence of chronic noncommunicable diseases, parity and age of vaccinated participants.
Results: In all breast milk samples from vaccinated women, IgA and IgG antibodies were detected against RBD-Wuhan-Hu-1 and anti-RBD-Omicron-BA.5, the latter with levels lower than those against RBD-Wuhan-Hu-1. The IgA isotype predominated over IgG. The neutralizing antibody titers were stable up to 9 weeks post-vaccination and in a magnitude similar to those generated by the infection. The presence of chronic noncommunicable diseases and multiparity correlated with the lowest titers, and these did not correlate with the age of the participants.
Conclusions: Abdala vaccine generates in breast milk, 5 and 9 weeks after three doses, different levels of IgA and IgG anti-RBD-Omicron BA.5 and anti-RBD-Wuhan-Hu-1, with neutralizing titers similar to those generated by SARS-CoV-2. Neutralizing antibody titers decreased in the presence of chronic non-communicable diseases or due to multiparity.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Maylin Pérez Bernal, Carlos Hernández Díaz, Rafael Ibargollín Ulloa, Midalis Martínez Barrios, Migdiala Soria Díaz, Magali Delgado Rigo, Dayamí Dorta Hernández, Enrique Pérez Cruz, Jose Manuel Sánchez Ríos
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