Pathogens are exogenous agents capable of causing disease in susceptible organisms..
In celiac sprue, a disease triggered by partially hydrolyzed gluten peptides in the small intestine,
the offending immunotoxins cannot replicate, but otherwise have many hallmarks of classical pathogens.
.
First, dietary gluten and its peptide metabolites are ubiquitous components of the modern diet,
yet only a small, genetically susceptible fraction of the human population contracts celiac sprue.
.
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?artid=2323203&blobtype=pdf.
Best Regards,
David
