Crocodile's immune system kills HIV

from Slashdot this morning comes this Reuters story by Michael Perry about a possible breakthrough in the fight against HIV/AIDS:

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Scientists in Australia's tropical north are collecting blood from crocodiles in the hope of developing a powerful antibiotic for humans, after tests showed that the reptile's immune system kills the HIV virus. The crocodile's immune system is much more powerful than that of humans, preventing life-threatening infections after savage territorial fights which often leave the animals with gaping wounds and missing limbs. More...