Loss of severe respiratory syncytial virus infection-associated antibody function during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic mitigation measures

Studies have linked reduced respiratory syncytial virus-specific Fc-mediated phagocytic function and complement deposition to more severe infection. This study shows a loss of these functions during the first year of COVID-19 pandemic. These findings corroborate other data supporting a general waning of RSV antibody functions in absence of viral circulation. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement The study was funded by the Government of Canada via its COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (to PML). BA was funded by Michael Smith Health Research BC. FR was funded by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) - RE 4598/1-2. PML received grant salary support from the BCCH Foundation. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: The study was approved by University of British Columbia Children's and Women's Hospital Research Ethics Board (H20-01205, H18-01724). All participants provided informed consent for these studies. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors