ActoGeniX is a recently formed Belgian company specializing in the development and use of genetically altered probiotic Lactococcus lactis bacteria designed to secrete and deliver therapeutic peptides and proteins to treat gastrointestinal disorders. Their product is called ActoBiotics™. Celiac disease is among the disorders ActoGeniX is currently investigating. Research has already shown efficacy in a celiac disease model where ActoBiotics™ continuously secrete small segments of gluten peptides to induce tolerance to gluten. Further research and trials are in the pipeline.

Researchers have found a 10mer durum wheat peptide capable of shifting a Th1 gluten-intolerant T cell response to a Th2 gluten-tolerant T cell response in intestinal T cell cultures derived from celiac disease children and incubated with deamidated gliadin peptides. Durum wheat peptides could potentially treat celiac disease by causing celiac disease associated T cells to react tolerantly to gluten.

A new confocal laser microscopic probe has been developed by Mauna Kea Technologies which works in conjunction with conventional endoscopes providing real-time video sequences of the intestinal mucosa magnified 500-1000 times greater than the conventional endoscopic view.

Researchers at the University of Chicago using vitamin D receptor "knockout" mice demonstrated vitamin D may have a key role in maintaining the intestinal mucosal barrier and the integrity of tight junctions.  The "knockout" mice were genetically altered to produce mice lacking vitamin D receptors normally expressed by cells in most body tissues.

Celiac.com 11/07/2006 – We should be hearing more about this in the news soon. A confocal...

Celiac.com 10/30/2006 - Two recent scientific publications have now shown that a rotavirus protein

Celiac.com 10/12/2006 - A new study examined Mayo Clinic medical records for the years 1970 through

Celiac.com 09/29/2006 - A new study identified a peptide which causes an immune reaction in a major

Celiac.com 09/12/2006 - Symptoms of celiac disease prominently include fat malabsorption. One would

Celiac.com 07/31/2006 - A two-year study in the July 2006 Endoscopy showed older celiac patients