Crocodile Blood Kills HIV - WTF?!

[jackshoegazer]

Crocodile Blood May Yield Powerful New Drugs



Tue Aug 16,10:33 AM ET

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Scientists in Australia's tropical north are collecting blood from crocodiles in the hope of developing a powerful antimicrobial drugs for humans, after tests showed that the reptile's immune system kills HIV.

I always assumed a cure would be found eventually, but never did I imagine that this would be the source!

Comments

[maeghanne.livejournal.com]

hmmm.....

[redheadedlawyer.livejournal.com]

Umm... that's a really COOL photo! And it's a very interesting article!

[sciencegeek36.livejournal.com]

Ummmmmmmm........HIV is a pathogen of primates and prolly
wouldn't survive in a reptile sans any immune system.....

But the picture does kick ass....

[book-of-lies777.livejournal.com]

um......... all viruses are incurable, right? They can even infect bacteria.

How about finding a cure for heart disease or cancer, things that destroy WAAAYYY many more lives and can possibly BE cured.

Nobody is walking down the street and suddenly develops HIV - it's contracted by IRRESPONSIBLE ACTION, newborns not included, of course.

[antarcticlust.livejournal.com]

Crocodiles are very ancient, so I wonder if this will yeild any exciting information on the age of HIV...perhaps its been waiting dormant and unchanging for millions of years. Perhaps it's what killed the dinosaurs. :)

[antarcticlust.livejournal.com]

Right, but what's astounding about the quote is that the croc's immune system kills the virus.

[antarcticlust.livejournal.com]

That's probably true in developed nations, but in Africa and now India and other parts of Asia it's becoming a much more ubiquitous risk. And you can develop antibodies to viruses, so yes- they are curable.

The following comment is a JOKE,

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Perhaps it's what killed the dinosaurs. :)

Oh, come on now! I very much doubt dinosaurs were gay intraveinous drug users!

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

Why pick and choose? Let's cure EVERYTHING!

Re: The following comment is a JOKE,

[antarcticlust.livejournal.com]

Well, since the world is only 3000 years old, they're not Christians, either. ;)

Re: The following comment is a JOKE,

[jackshoegazer.livejournal.com]

OMG! All the dinosaurs are dead and spending eternity in HELL!!

Re: The following comment is a JOKE,

[antarcticlust.livejournal.com]

Woah. Maybe that's why it's hell?