Frog sweat may kill HIV

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051021/NEWS07/510210406/1024/NEWS

One day, the key ingredient of a vaginal cream used to prevent the spread of HIV could be "frog sweat."

Vanderbilt University researchers found that secretions from the skin of some Australian frogs were effective in the test tube at killing HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. They hope their findings will lead to the creation of a topical ointment containing synthetic secretions that will help cut the spread of the deadly worldwide pandemic.

"Anything we discover that has the potential to stop HIV is exciting," said Dr. Derya Unutmaz, a Vanderbilt associate professor of microbiology and immunology. "This is a virus that we have been unable to stop. Worldwide, there are 4 million new infections each year, and that number is growing."

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Rollins-Smith said the discovery that frog secretions may potentially save lives reinforces the importance of protecting animals and their environments. She noted that the Australian frog species used in the study are being threatened by disease and disappearing habitat.

if the present administration is still in office when it comes out, it won't be allowed. They want nothing done that encourages sex and imagine if we couldn't get Aids, how much more sex there would be.:sarcasm:

I expect people will be trying to harvest their sweat, and that's just wrong, baby. So wrong.

...of profits from AIDS treatments. Simple, preventive medicines will, therefore, be squashed.

Where is Kermit the Frog when you need him?

Crocodile blood antibiotics hope

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4155522.stm

When Dr Merchant exposed the alligator blood to pathogens such as HIV, West Nile Virus and E Coli, it started to kill them.

"It turns out that this complement system is much more effective than ours.

"But there is really no clinical utility because I can't isolate them from alligators and inject them into your veins because your body would recognise that it was not human."

Instead, he hopes to be able find something in the crocodile and alligator blood that can be mimicked in a drug, and has begun to look at white blood cells - the cells that flock to fight invading pathogens.

Imagine the possibilities if we can reproduce this healing in humans?

Last night, I was digging in my garden (a grave for my 13-year-old dog :cry: ) and suddenly noticed a toad sitting there. I'm pretty sure I didn't injure him physically. He was groggy; I'm guessing he was hibernating. I put him to the side and covered him with an inch of soil. Later, he'd hopped away. Will he likely survive my disturbing him?