A universal protocol for streptococcal alpha surveillance will transform the world's vaccine research

A global consortium of group A streptococcal (streptococcus A) researchers has launched a series of best practice monitoring protocols aimed at uniting international research efforts to develop the world's first Streptococcus A vaccine
.

The Global Alliance for Streptococcal A Vaccines (SAVAC), based at the International Vaccine Research Institute, spearheaded the development of the program to provide a clear case definition of diseases caused by streptococcus type A and to guide researchers in designing and planning clinical trials that measure the effectiveness and safety of vaccines
.

At the Open Forum on Infectious Diseases, published by the American Society of Infectious Diseases, surveillance programmes target each of the seven disease endpoints that contribute to the majority of global health and economic burden of streptococcus A-pharyngitis; Putishism; Cellulitis; Invasive group A streptococcal infection; Acute rheumatic fever (ARF); Rheumatic heart disease and post-acute streptococcal glomerulonephritis
.

Professor Jonathan Carapetis, director of the Telethon Children's Institute in Perth, Western Australia, is a member of the SAVAC Executive Committee and a world-leading expert
in vaccine development and infectious diseases.

Professor Carapetis said: "Streptococcus A is one of the deadliest microbes in the world and causes more health problems than any bacteria – from sore throats and skin ulcers to fatal sepsis, carnivorous disease, scarlet fever and toxic shock
.

"Add to that the big killers like rheumatic heart disease — a major problem in low-income countries and our indigenous populations — streptococcus A is indeed the biggest infectious killer
that almost no one has ever heard of.

"Vital research is being conducted in every corner of the world, identifying and monitoring the long-term burden of disease, uncovering trends, and most exciting is the development of new public health interventions
.

"The new protocol is intended for use in global streptococcal alpha surveillance studies, ensuring that research studies can be compared with each other and that results from different populations and different studies can be compiled and analyzed
together.

"The place where these protocols are used will also be the best place to test new Streptococcal A vaccines when
they get to that stage.

Researchers at the Telethon Children's Institute have put the new pharyngitis treatment into practice, designing a sore throat study
involving 1,050 healthy Australian children based on the program's recommendations.

Professor Carapetis said: "This 12-month study will assess how many children have a sore throat, what are the most common causes of a sore throat, and how a sore throat changes during different seasons of the year, which will help to understand how vaccines can be used to prevent various diseases
caused by streptococcus type A.

Dr.

"Given the breadth and complexity of the spectrum associated with streptococcus A, accurate estimates of the global burden of disease are challenging
.

"Supported by the global resolutions on ARF and RHD adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2018, and as vaccine development gains momentum, we envision that these programmes will provide a clearer picture of mortality and infection rates, unite global research activities, and accelerate our joint efforts
to develop the world's first Streptococcus A vaccine.

Learn more about the work of the Global Alliance for Streptococcal A Vaccines and learn more about streptococcus A and RHD research through the telethonkids.