Describe how the engulfment of a bacterium by a dendritic cell leads to the presentation of bacterial antigens on its surface.

Describe how the presentation of these bacterial antigens by the dendritic cell leads to the clonal selection and differentiation of B lymphocytes to produce antibodies.

Rheumatic fever is an autoimmune condition characterized by damage to cardiac muscle tissue and heart valves. It often develops after an infection by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes. This bacterium expresses a surface antigen called M protein, which has a tertiary structure highly similar to human cardiac myosin.

Suggest how an infection with Streptococcus pyogenes can lead to the development of rheumatic fever.