New research led by Arizona State University suggests that the immune system may show signs of how strongly it will react even before vaccination. Researchers examined blood samples from more than 4,000 people, measuring antibodies that recognized 185 antigens, including common viruses and bacteria, along with targets connected to autoimmune diseases. Artificial intelligence was then used to search for patterns in blood samples taken before and after COVID-19 vaccination. The analysis uncovered antibody signatures that could help separate people who produced strong vaccine responses from those whose responses were weaker.
The study found that certain biomarkers, when analyzed with AI, can predict who is likely to respond well to a vaccine, even before they receive it. This suggests that some people may be more immune-ready than others. The researchers call these “sentinel” antibodies because they may serve as indicators of a person’s underlying immune readiness. These antibodies are not necessarily acting directly against the vaccine target but provide information about how prepared the antibody-producing portion of the immune system is to mount a response.