To investigate the spectrum, determinants and long-term outcome of SARS-CoV-2 in African children, immune responses and protective role of prior sHCoV

我们将调查非洲儿童的SARS-CoV-2感染情况，包括疾病谱、感染危险因素、相关炎症和对长期健康的影响。我们将检测SARS-CoV-2抗体，并评估疫情前季节性冠状病毒（sHCoV）抗体是否能预防COVID。我们将比较SARS-CoV-2患儿与其他原因肺炎患儿的炎症和基因表达模式。为此，我们将利用两项研究的现有专业知识和基础设施：(1)德拉肯斯坦儿童健康研究（DCHS），一项对儿童进行至少6岁随访的出生队列研究(2)一项对撒哈拉以南非洲最大的儿童医院肺炎住院儿童的研究。DCHS的儿童将反复接受SARS-CoV-2、抗体、炎症模式和基因表达模式的检测。储存的血液样本将用于检测先前的炎症、免疫反应和可能预防COVID的抗体。肺炎研究中的儿童将接受SARS-CoV-2和其他病毒检测，以比较临床特征、危险因素、结局、炎症标志物和基因表达。所有儿童将接受为期12个月的随访，以评估长期健康状况。该研究将提供有关疾病谱系、危险因素、长期结果、抗体检测作用的新信息，并确定儿童治疗的新靶点。

We will investigate SARS-CoV-2 infection in African children including spectrum of illness, risk factors for infection, associated inflammation and impact on long-term health. We will measure antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and evaluate whether antibodies to seasonal coronavirus (sHCoV), prior to the epidemic, protect against COVID. We will compare inflammation and gene expression patterns in children with SARS-CoV-2 to that in pneumonia from other causes.To do this, we will leverage the existing expertise and infrastructure from two studies (i) Drakenstein Child Health Study (DCHS), a birth cohort study following children until at least 6 years (ii) a study of children hospitalized with pneumonia at the largest Childrens Hospital in sub-Saharan Africa.Children in DCHS will be repeatedly tested for SARS-CoV-2, for antibodies, for patterns of inflammation and for patterns of gene expression. Stored blood samples will be used to test for prior inflammation, immune responses and antibodies that may protect against COVID. Children in the pneumonia study will be tested for SARS-CoV-2 and for other viruses to compare clinical features, risk factors, outcome, markers of inflammation and gene expression. All children will be followed for 12 months to evaluate long term health.The study will provide new information on disease spectrum, risk factors, long-term outcome, the role of antibody testing, and identify new targets for treatment in children.