Complete the following topics and type one page (single-sided) for each topic. Please work independently on this project and include references such as textbooks, CDC or NIH websites, medical websites or others. If a book or journal article is referenced, please list page numbers so I can find the reference. References do not count against the page limit. These essays should be your own written words about what you find.

1. Describe Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF) and how Streptococcus pyogenes infections can lead to ARF. What causes the inflammation throughout tissues in the body? What happens to the heart during ARF. How can consequences like ARF be avoided following S. pyogenes infections? What precautions might someone who has had ARF need to follow during invasive dental procedures?

What is Scarlet fever? How long after onset of a strep throat infection does Scarlet fever emerge? What is the pattern of the rash in Scarlet fever? What is special about the strains that can cause Scarlet fever as compared to those that just cause strep throat? What bacterial product is responsible the diffuse rash? How is the gene encoding that bacterial product carried on the bacterial chromosome? Why is the rash not localized to the site of infection? What is the treatment for Scarlet fever? How many cases/yr are there of Scarlet fever in the U.S.? How does that compare to ~50 years ago?