Copies of author's previously published articles inserted. / Bibliography: leaves 120-129. / 129 leaves : / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Shows no significant difference in reactivity between sera from non-Aboriginals with previous rheumatic fever and matched controls. Using peptides in combination, or using related 20-mer peptides with the same panel of sera, did not reliably differentiate between subjects with rheumatic fever and those without. / Thesis (M.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology, 1998?