From: Alan Cairns 

On 27/12/03 10:27 PM, in article 3fee779d$1{at}w3.nls.net, "Randall Parker"
 wrote:

> But what about old folks or others who have low stomach acid levels? I
thought
> for
> some people peptides can make it past the stomach.

These are all variables. Plus lots of people take drugs to essentially
eliminate stomach acid. A few peptides make it to the jejunum, and may be
absorbed. It's hard to imagine something as delicate as a prion passing
through an intestine and being absorbed as a whole protein and keeping its
peculiar folding. Then again, not many people get vCJD.

Alan

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