University of Queensland-led research has found the lining of children’s noses is better at inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 infections than adult noses.

Dr Kirsty Short from UQ’s School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences said it might be one reason why children’s immune responses have so far proven more effective at avoiding and fighting COVID-19.

“Children have a lower COVID-19 infection rate and milder symptoms than adults, but the reasons for this have been unknown,” Dr Short said.

“We’ve shown the lining of children’s noses has a more pro-inflammatory response to the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 than adult noses.

“But we found it’s a different ball game when it come to the Omicron variant.”