Pre-existing antibody patterns may reveal how strongly a person will respond to vaccination, helping identify individuals at risk of a blunted immune response. Credit: Jason Drees, Biodesign Institute At Arizona State University
Vaccines protect most people from serious illness, but the strength of that protection can vary considerably from one person to another. A new study led by Arizona State University helps us understand why.
Before a vaccine ever enters the body, the immune system may already hold clues to how strongly it will respond. In blood samples from more than 4,000 people, ASU researchers and their colleagues measured antibodies against 185 antigens—targets recognized by the immune system, including those from common viruses and bacteria as well as targets associated with autoimmune diseases.
They then used artificial intelligence to analyze patterns in samples collected before and after COVID-19 vaccination, identifying antibody signatures that helped distinguish strong vaccine responders from weak ones.
The research opens a possible path toward more personalized vaccination strategies.
