Pusan National University Professor Hyungki Park's Team Identifies Patterns in COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Antibody Responses

Joint Research with Japanese Team
Proposing an Early Identification Method for High-Risk Groups of Breakthrough Infection

Pusan National University (President Choi Jaewon) announced on September 22 that the research team led by Professor Hyungki Park from the Department of Biomedical Convergence Engineering, in collaboration with Japanese researchers, has conducted a large-scale analysis of antibody responses in recipients of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines and proposed a method for early identification of groups at high risk of breakthrough infection (infection after completing vaccination).

Professor Hyungki Park at Pusan National University.

This study collected and analyzed antibody and clinical data from approximately 2,500 individuals over a long-term period from 2021 to 2025, utilizing a combination of mathematical modeling and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques.

The research team identified that antibody responses after mRNA vaccination can be categorized into distinct patterns: a 'durable type' with high and sustained antibody levels; a 'vulnerable type' with insufficient antibody formation; and a 'rapid decline type' where initial antibody levels are high but decrease sharply. Notably, the 'vulnerable type' and 'rapid decline type' groups were found to be at higher risk of breakthrough infection, and these groups were characterized by low blood IgA antibody levels in the early stages after vaccination. This suggests that IgA can serve as a biomarker for predicting the risk of breakthrough infection.

Professor Hyungki Park's team used unsupervised machine learning to classify high-risk groups for breakthrough infection and demonstrated that the IgA index enables early identification of high-risk individuals who cannot be predicted based solely on age or clinical information.

The results of this study are expected to provide scientific evidence for determining the timing and prioritization of booster vaccinations, implementing personalized immune management, and establishing strategies to prepare for future pandemics.

This research was jointly conducted with Professor Hyungki Park of Pusan National University as the first author, utilizing data from Professor Masaharu Tsubokura's team at Fukushima Medical University in Japan and mathematical models from Professor Shingo Iwami's team at Nagoya University.

The research findings were published in the September 17 (local time) issue of the world-renowned journal in the field of translational medicine, Science Translational Medicine.

Professor Hyungki Park stated, "It is significant that we have precisely identified differences in mRNA vaccine antibody responses and scientifically suggested which groups require earlier booster vaccinations," adding, "This will serve as an important basis for future vaccine policy development and pandemic response strategies."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.