Publications by authors named "Shawn Fels"

New variants are evolving in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and receptor binding domain (RBD) mutations have been associated with a higher capacity to evade neutralizing antibodies (NAbs). We aimed at determining the impact of COVID-19 vaccine and infection on human milk antibody titers and activity against the RBD mutations from SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. Milk samples were collected from 19 COVID-19 vaccinated women, 10 women who had a positive COVID-19 PCR test, and 13 unvaccinated women.

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This study aims to compare the receptor-binding domain (RBD) severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific antibody titers in human milk between mothers with a confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and mothers with viral symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. The area under the curve (AUC) for RBD SARS-CoV-2-specific secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA)/immunoglobulin A (IgA), secretory immunoglobulin M (SIgM)/immunoglobulin M (IgM), immunoglobulin G (IgG), and free secretory components (fSC) in milk samples from eight mothers with a confirmed COVID-19 PCR, eight mothers with viral symptoms (no PCR testing), and six unexposed mothers (pre-pandemic 2018). AUCs of RBD SARS-CoV-2-specific SIgA/IgA, SIgM/IgM, IgG, and fSC in milk samples were comparable between mothers with confirmed COVID-19 PCR and mothers with viral symptoms of suggestive COVID-19.

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Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) play a critical role in neurodevelopment, where breast milk is a significant dietary source. The impact of previous COVID-19 infection and mastitis on the concentration of BDNF and NGF in human milk was investigated.

Methods: Concentrations of BDNF and NGF were measured via ELISA in human milk samples collected from 12 mothers with a confirmed COVID-19 PCR, 13 mothers with viral symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, and 22 unexposed mothers (pre-pandemic Ctl-2018).

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Preexisting immunity to SARS-CoV-2 could be related to cross-reactive antibodies to common human-coronaviruses (HCoVs). This study aimed to evaluate whether human milk antibodies against to S1 and S2 subunits SARS-CoV-2 are cross-reactive to S1 and S2 subunits HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-229E in mothers with a confirmed COVID-19 PCR test, in mothers with previous viral symptoms during COVID-19 pandemic, and in unexposed mothers; Methods: The levels of secretory IgA (SIgA)/IgA, secretory IgM (SIgM)/IgM, and IgG specific to S1 and S2 SARS-CoV-2, and reactive to S1 + S2 HCoV-OC43, and HCoV-229E were measured in milk from 7 mothers with a confirmed COVID-19 PCR test, 20 mothers with viral symptoms, and unexposed mothers (6 Ctl1-2018 and 16 Ctl2-2018) using ELISA; Results: The S2 SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels were higher in the COVID-19 PCR ( = 0.014) and viral symptom ( = 0.

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Objective: This study aimed to determine whether vaccination during pregnancy, prematurity, and staphylococci concentration influenced the presence of B. cereus or staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) in raw human milk from healthy mothers.

Study Design: Human milk samples were collected from 152 healthy women.

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