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These Melbourne siblings could one day help save hundreds of thousands of lives.

Emily, 9, and Thomas, 6, have signed up for a study into sore throats in children, in a bid to help ­develop a Strep A vaccine.

Researchers want more than 1000 Melbourne and Perth children to volunteer, so they can learn more about an infection that leads to 500,000 deaths around the globe every year.

Murdoch Children’s Research Institute project leader Andrew Steer said it would be “amazing” to one day produce a vaccine, helped by information gained in this study.

“Understanding sore throat in Victoria and in Perth will be a really important first step in our efforts to eventually develop a vaccine,” he said.

“A vaccine for Strep A will save hundreds of thousands of lives every year and prevent millions of infections that send children and adults to the hospital or doctor.”

Associate Professor Steer said Strep A was the most common bacterial* cause of a sore throat, with almost every child infected, and could be treated with antibiotics.

“But when left untreated it can become life-threatening if the bacteria* invades the body’s bloodstream, muscles or lungs,” he said.

“Strep A causes a big burden of disease around the world.”

The one-year study, led by the Murdoch Children’s and Telethon Kids institutes, involves three visits from the research team and can be done from the comfort of home.

Prof Steer said that following the success of rapid antigen tests, parents would also be asked to swab their children’s throat when it felt sore throughout the year and perform a finger prick blood test.

“We’re really excited about this aspect,” he said. “I think we’re doing things differently than we would have done prior to the pandemic.”

He said a vaccine would help reduce rheumatic* heart disease, a deadly complication which disproportionately* affects Indigenous communities in Northern Australia.

A vaccine would also help combat* antibiotic* ­resistance*. The more antibiotics people take the less effective they become because the infections get better at resisting the antibiotic medications.

“Sore throat is the most common reason for people getting a prescription for an antibiotic at the general practitioner,” Prof Steer said.

“To be able to reduce antibiotic prescriptions would take a lot of pressure off that antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is a huge issue around the world.”

Mum Barbara Cross said she was motivated to sign up Emily and Thomas for the study after some of their friends were hospitalised with Strep A complications.

“(They) became ­extremely ill, requiring medically induced comas*, exploratory surgery* and extended hospital stays,” she said.

“I feel so lucky every day that, at this point in time, my kids are healthy.

“Taking part in this study is a small way we can help others avoid the trauma we saw our friends experience.”

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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES 1. Make a flyer Make an information flyer to let potential volunteers know about this study. You should tell them why the study is important and what is involved in participating.

Tip: Think about your audience – will you aim your flyer towards children who might choose to participate or their parents?

Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity Curriculum Links: English; Science

2. Extension Would you be prepared to participate in a study like this one? Write an explanation for why you would or wouldn’t be involved.

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity Curriculum Links: English; Personal and Social Capability; Ethical Understanding

VCOP ACTIVITY Not just a sore throat Emily and Thomas are going to be involved in a fantastic research project. Would you be willing to commit to a year of throat swabs and finger prick tests every time you get a sore throat if it went towards developing a vaccine?

Write a letter to your parent or carer convincing them why you should or should not be involved in the study.

Don’t forget to use emotive and persuasive language, as well as openers that connect your thoughts and ideas together.

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