# Breast Milk and COVID-19

> **NIH NIH UM1** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2020 · $292,406

## Abstract

Project Description
In less than 6 months, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has spread across the globe
indiscriminately infecting persons regardless of social status or age. Pregnant women and children are not
spared but in contrast to other respiratory viruses, SARS-CoV-2 infection does not appear to be more severe in
these groups. Nevertheless, there is considerable concern about transmission from mother to infant particularly
via breast feeding. Many viral infections such as HIV, CMV, and Ebola are transmitted through breast milk.
SARS-CoV-2 enters human cells using the ACE 2 receptor which is present in breast tissue. This increases
concern that the virus may be present in the breast milk of infected women. Although most children do
remarkably well with infection, children <1 year of age have more severe illness with high rates of
hospitalization and admission to the intensive care unit. Therefore, defining the risks of SARS-CoV-2 breast
milk transmission is of critical importance. However, breast milk is not only a potential vector of transmission
but can be a vehicle of protection by the transfer of protective antibodies and other immune factors. Both
humoral and cellular immune responses in milk, including milk antibodies to respiratory viruses such as
influenza, modulate infant disease. In fact, infants less than 6 months of age rely on maternal antibodies to
protect them against influenza and other respiratory viruses. Maternal flu immunization protects infants for at
least 6 months not only against influenza but other febrile illnesses. Whether breast milk contains antibodies to
SARS-CoV-2 and whether it modulates the risk of infection to the infant is unknown. Answering these
questions will require assays to detect the virus and its immune response in milk. We propose to fill these
critical gaps by validating a quantitative RT-PCR assay for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in breast milk and then
testing over 100 milk samples from women infected with COVID-19. We will also test heat inactivation
protocols used by breast milk banks to verify that Holder pasteurization destroys SARS-CoV-2. At present,
breast milk banks will not accept donations from women who have had COVID-19. As the infection spreads
this exclusion will limit the availability to sick and vulnerable infants. Finally, we will develop an assay to detect
antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 expressed in breast milk and compare those to the antibodies present in maternal
blood. Information about maternal transfer of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies to the infant is a high priority to
inform both breastfeeding practices and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination strategies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10151521
- **Project number:** 3UM1AI106716-08S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Grace M Aldrovandi
- **Activity code:** UM1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $292,406
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-06-01 → 2022-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10151521

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10151521, Breast Milk and COVID-19 (3UM1AI106716-08S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10151521. Licensed CC0.

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