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AIDS-Like Virus New Threat To Koala

Posted by timothy on from the poor-fellas dept.

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."

14 of 120 comments (clear)

  1. Blame CmdrTaco by nadamucho · · Score: 4, Funny

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

  2. I knew those koalas were closet cases by kawabago · · Score: 4, Funny

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

  3. Why? by deniable · · Score: 3, Funny

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

    1. Re:Why? by religious+freak · · Score: 3, Interesting

      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 :)

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    2. Re:Why? by Hurricane78 · · Score: 4, Funny

      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. :)

      --
      Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
  4. What's with the stupid hat? by Cimexus · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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.

    1. Re:What's with the stupid hat? by AuMatar · · Score: 4, Funny

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

      --
      I still have more fans than freaks. WTF is wrong with you people?
    2. Re:What's with the stupid hat? by dakameleon · · Score: 3, Funny

      is this a serious news site?

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

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      Man who leaps off cliff jumps to conclusion.
    3. Re:What's with the stupid hat? by Michael+Kristopeit · · Score: 3, Insightful
      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?

    4. Re:What's with the stupid hat? by Nobo · · Score: 4, Informative

      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.

  5. There is only one possible conclusion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    GOD HATES KOALAS!!1!!

  6. Re:Drop Bears by mrsteveman1 · · Score: 4, Funny

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

  7. Relax, koala-lovers by srussia · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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?

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    Set your phasers on "funky"!
  8. Retro is cool by MightyDrunken · · Score: 5, Informative

    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!

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    The most dangerous drug