Discovery of a new subtype of SEO virus.

Objective: The M and S segments of Cou3, a Hantavirus strain isolated from Rattus norvegieus were partially reverse transcripted, PCR amplified and sequenced with ABI 373 DNA sequencer to observe the differences from other SEO type viruses.

Methods: RT-PCR was used to amplify M and S segments of Cou3 strain, and then the nucleotide (nt) sequences of the segments were analysed. Phylogenetic tree analysis was also performed.

Accelerated onset of age-related autoimmune lesions in MRL/+ mice by ovariectomy.

MRL/Mp +/+ (MRL/+) mice, not bearing the lpr gene, are known to have age-related autoimmune lesions in several organs such as pancreas, salivary and lacrimal glands at 30-weeks-old or more. In this study, MRL/+ mice were ovariectomized at 4-weeks-old, and their natural histories were analysed. Ovariectomy (Ovx) of MRL/+ mice led to marked acceleration of organ-specific autoimmune lesions exclusively in the salivary and lacrimal glands at 8-weeks-old or more, whereas no significant inflammatory change was observed in the pancreas.