Spanish research unveils celiac‑digesting enzyme and estimates 146,500 premature deaths from air pollution in Europe

Scientists at Spain’s CSIC and the University of Barcelona have engineered a novel enzyme, called celiacasa, that can break down gluten peptides—including the toxic 33‑mer—at the highly acidic pH of the stomach. In mouse trials the molecule showed strong activity at low concentrations, suggesting potential as a future therapeutic for celiac disease, which currently relies on a lifelong gluten‑free diet.

Separately, a collaborative study led by Barcelona’s ISGlobal and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center analyzed 89 million deaths across 31 European countries from 2003‑2019. By linking regional mortality data with detailed air‑quality measurements, the researchers estimated that short‑term spikes in multiple pollutants cause about 146,500 premature deaths each year in Europe, with Spain accounting for roughly 9,900 of those deaths. The study highlights acute health risks such as cardiovascular and respiratory events triggered by brief periods of poor air quality.