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Common virus may be celiac disease culprit

Viral interaction with gluten may send wrong signal to immune system, mouse study finds

reovirus

A VIRAL TRIGGER A reovirus (illustrated here) may jump-start celiac disease by turning the immune system against gluten, a new study in mice suggests.

Science Photo Library/Alamy Stock Photo

By Elizabeth Eaton

- More than 2 years ago

A common and usually harmless virus may trigger celiac disease. Infection with the suspected culprit, a reovirus, could cause the immune system to react to gluten as if it was a dangerous pathogen instead of a harmless food protein, an international team of researchers reports April 7 in Science.