More and more children are developing type 1 diabetes.
The “Fr1da plus” study: “Type 1 diabetes: early detection – good treatment early” uses a few drops of blood to examine whether a child is at an early stage of type 1 diabetes.
As the Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Health and the Environment writes in a current release, comprehensive antibody tests against the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 could help to obtain realistic values about the frequency of infection with the pathogen.
Researchers in a study testing children in Bavaria for an early stage of type 1 diabetes now include these tests directly in their studies.
Tens of thousands of blood samples have already been collected in connection with a study on the early detection of type 1 diabetes.
These samples should now also be tested for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.
Diabetes study now tests thousands of children for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2
These blood samples are now also used in the fight against the new corona virus.
Together with an existing network of hundreds of pediatricians and under the direction of the Helmholtz Zentrum München, they could have up to 65.
Now test 000 blood samples from the Fr1da-plus study for the presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.
As the message says, “Fr1da plus” collects blood samples from children in Bavaria aged 2-5 and 9-10 years for type 1 diabetes early detection.
Children’s blood samples for type 1 diabetes early detection
These samples are now said to be retroactive from August 2019 to the present (around 15
000 samples) and continuing over the next two years (optimally around 50.
000 samples – depending on the financial means) can also be tested for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.
No proof of immunity due to the presence of antibodies
According to the information, the tests are carried out on the assumption that the presence of antibodies against the immunodominant epitope of the SARS-CoV-2 protein, namely the receptor binding domain of the S protein, could provide information about individual immunity.
The existing sample collection and close cooperation with over 600 medical practices enable the Fr1da-plus researchers to carry out the tests promptly and on a large scale.
There is currently no evidence of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 due to the presence of specific antibodies.
As soon as this is available, the tests could provide relevant information on the immunity situation of children in Bavaria.
Prof.
Anette-Gabriele Ziegler, head of the Fr1da-plus study and director of the Institute for Diabetes Research at the Helmholtz Zentrum München said:
“Our already existing large network of pediatric practices in Bavaria offers the best conditions to advance epidemiological research on exposure frequency to COVID-19 and thus make an important contribution to corona research.
We expect to be able to deliver the first test results in autumn 2020.
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It is also of particular interest to the scientists at Fr1da plus whether there is a connection between the presence and number of antibodies that indicate presymptomatic type 1 diabetes and antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 – that is, whether the risk of children with autoimmune type 1 diabetes could be associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 disease.
As it says on the study website, a comprehensive antibody test against SARS-CoV-2 could also provide realistic values about increasing herd immunity.
In addition to the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infections in children in Bavaria, the tests could also provide insights into the distribution pattern and record any differences in region, age and gender.
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