AIDS-Like Virus New Threat To Koala

An anonymous reader writes "A virus that may weaken the immune system of koalas, similar to HIV in humans, is a new 'wild card' among threats facing the species and nearly all koalas in the Australian state of Queensland could already be infected."

Comments

Blame CmdrTaco

[nadamucho]

I'm pretty sure I know how this all started..

I knew those koalas were closet cases

[kawabago]

Sleep 18 hours a day and eat the rest of the time. If they gambled too they could be my ex!

Why?

[deniable]

Why is it always the Koalas with STDs? First it was chlamydia, now it's this thing. I blame the tourists.

Re:Why?

[Anonymous Coward]

Because it's a cute and furry dick warmer.

Re:Why?

[religious freak]

Actually, I recall a video (possibly TED vid, too lazy to look up) which discussed the method by which AIDS likely was first transmitted into humans. It was hypothesized to have actually been transmitted via hunter/gatherers carrying their bloody prey on their backs. Because their backs had abrasions from chasing their future food through trees and growth the infected animal blood was mixed with human blood and voila... AIDS came to humans.

Let's just hope there aren't too many bloodied aboriginals hunting koalas :)

Re:Why?

[Hurricane78]

Yeah, riiight. That’s the excuse I’d have given.
Doctor: Terrible news. You’re the first human to contract AIDS.
Patient: How would I have gotten that?
Doctor: Two ways: One: You were fucking a chimp up the ass.
Patient: LOL. Pff. Fucking a chimp up the ass... Me? No way. ... How else could I have gotten it?
Doctor: Oh, you could have carried bloody prey on your back, while your back had abrasio...
Patient: That one!
(Credit goes to Ricky Gervais. :)

What's with the stupid hat?

[Cimexus]

Does anyone else feel mildly offended every time they see that stupid hat icon they use for Australian stories now? I mean seriously ... is this a serious news site? It'd be like using a picture of Speedy Gonzales for Mexican stories, or a fat man with a mustache saying "mamma mia!" for Italian ones.

Re:What's with the stupid hat?

[AuMatar]

I agree. It should be a giant knife. And the mouseover should say "That's not a knife. This is a knife."

Re:What's with the stupid hat?

[dakameleon]

is this a serious news site?

Is this a serious news site? How long exactly have you been coming to Slashdot, mate?

Re:What's with the stupid hat?

[Michael Kristopeit]

they still use a demonized picture of bill gates for microsoft stories...

which is worse, personalized corporate attacks long after the person has left the corporation, or generalized cultural observations? or isn't there a difference?

Re:What's with the stupid hat?

[Cimexus]

Ahh, but Australia is one of the most urbanised countries on earth (measured by proportion of population living in large metro areas). Far more so than most of Europe, or the US and Canada.

So although I'm quite aware that an Akubra is a pretty essential thing to have if you live on the land, all I'm really saying is that using it as an icon representing the country as a whole smacks of stereotyping. It just irritates me Americans just seem to instantly think of a 30 year old movie as the first thing that comes to mind when they think of Australia ... not only that but a movie that is not really supposed to be taken seriously. It's like they know nothing else about the place, except that.

Wasn't meaning to launch a massive thread on the matter but it bugs me every time I see the icon, that's all.

Re:What's with the stupid hat?

[Chees0rz]

I had a great conversation in a bar with an Aussie tourist. He picked up his shit and just decided to drive around the West Coast. We talked about stereotypes... he was amazed that kids picked up summer jobs when in school out here, because television/movies just showed kids raising while class was out... not working. He also had some messed up views of american football and what we do for sports in HS.

It goes both ways!

Re:What's with the stupid hat?

[SEE]

I agree, they should use the Australian flag, with the traditional boot kicking a bare arse.

Re:What's with the stupid hat?

[fuzzix]

It just irritates me Americans just seem to instantly think of a 30 year old movie as the first thing that comes to mind when they think of Australia

And that's the point, it's a useful piece of iconography on an American site to make 'em go "Australia". It's like having pictures on a menu so the unlettered folk can point at the food they'd like and grunt "four".

I don't think there's an icon for Ireland but if there was, what would it be? Text now and win a prize!

Text "A" for: A Leprechaun!
Text "B" for: A Shamrock!
Text "C" for: Government corruption and petty revenge!
Text "D" for: A bishop covering up a priest's sexual abuse of altar boys!

ENTER NOW!

Re:What's with the stupid hat?

[Nobo]

It just irritates me Americans just seem to instantly think of a 30 year old movie as the first thing that comes to mind when they think of Australia ... It's like they know nothing else about the place, except that.

Speaking as an American, I think you may be underestimating us. We also know about Outback Steakhouse.

Re:What's with the stupid hat?

[ElectricTurtle]

Australians are a race now? Americans are frequently stereotyped as cowboys, is that 'pseudo-racist' too? Or are you some racial positivist twit that thinks only white American males are capable of 'true racism' and therefore any discrimination against them isn't racist because they 'deserve it'?

There is only one possible conclusion

[Anonymous Coward]

GOD HATES KOALAS!!1!!

Re:Drop Bears

[mrsteveman1]

I agree, they're actually closer to ewoks. Not nearly as good at mounting rebel attacks, though.

Relax, koala-lovers

[srussia]

The only HIV-like aspect of the virus is that it is a retrovirus. It may even be harmless. BTW, does anyone have data on the prevalence of non-HIV retroviruses in humans?

Retro is cool

[MightyDrunken]

The nature article to the news story seems very interesting. As retroviruses have to integrate themselves into the cells genome to replicate, if the retrovirus infects a germline cell the virus can become incorporated into the animals genome and passed to their offspring. This seems to be already happening with this virus and it gives a chance to study the process in action.

About 8% of our genome is probably from ancient viruses which "invaded" our genome millions of years ago. Generally they become deactivated by mutation but they have been implicated in the growth of mammal embryos and the placenta. It would be pretty cool if the placenta, a defining feature of most of the mammals is due to a virus!