Microbes can be genetically modified to express biomolecules that are beneficial to mammals and/or to reduce, or eliminate, expression of harmful virulence factors. The growth and viability of such genetically modified microbes can optionally be controlled by inducible promoters that regulate the expression of proteins that are essential to their growth and survival. Compositions comprising such genetically modified microbes as well as methods of making and using the same are disclosed herein.

A composition useful for alleviating or treating pain and uses thereof are disclosed. The composition containing glutamate decarboxylase and a gene coding for an anti-inflammatory cytokine. A method for alleviating or treating pain of a subject includes administering the composition to the subject.

The present invention relates to a bacterium, in which the expression and/or the activity of surface proteases is/are inhibited, to its preparation process and to the uses of this bacterium.

The application relates to a dual cytokine fusion protein composition, pharmaceutical composition, and/or formulation thereof comprising IL-10 or IL-10 variant molecules fused to a single chain variable fragment scaffolding system and a second cytokine, where the second cytokine is linked in the hinge region of the scFv. The application also relates to methods of using the dual cytokine fusion protein composition for treating cancer, inflammatory diseases or disorders, and immune and immune mediated diseases or disorders.

The present disclosure provides fusion proteins comprising an IL-10 polypeptide and a second polypeptide, e.g., an Fc polypeptide. Certain aspects of the present disclosure are directed to methods of treating a subject comprising administering the IL-10 fusion protein. In certain aspects, the subject is afflicted with a cancer.

Microorganisms are provided, such as lactic acid bacteria (e.g., Lactococcus lactis) containing an exogenous nucleic acid encoding an IL-10 polypeptide and an exogenous nucleic acid encoding a CeD-specific antigen (e.g., a gliadin polypeptide comprising at least one HLA-DQ2 specific epitope, at least one deamidated HLA-DQ2 specific epitope, at least one HLA-DQ8 specific epitope, at least one deamidated HLA-DQ8 specific epitope, or a combination of (a) at least one HLA-DQ2-specific epitope and/or at least one deamidated HLA-DQ2 specific epitope, and (b) at least one HLA-DQ8 specific epitope and/or at least one deamidated HLA-DQ8 specific epitope) polypeptide, wherein both exogenous nucleic acids are integrated into the bacterial chromosome. Such microbial strains are suitable for human therapy. Compositions (e.g., pharmaceutical compositions), methods of using the microorganisms and compositions are provided, e.g., for the treatment of celiac disease (CeD). The microorganism may be administered orally, delivering the microorganism into the gastrointestinal tract, where it is released and expresses the bioactive polypeptides.

The application relates to a dual cytokine fusion protein composition, pharmaceutical composition, and/or formulation thereof comprising IL-10 or IL-10 variant molecules fused to a single chain variable fragment scaffolding system and a second cytokine, where the second cytokine is linked in the hinge region of the scFv. The application also relates to methods of using the dual cytokine fusion protein composition for treating cancer, inflammatory diseases or disorders, and immune and immune mediated diseases or disorders.

The present disclosure provides antibodies, including antibody fusions, which specifically bind to human PD-L1 protein (huPD-L1) and are capable of decreasing, inhibiting, and/or fully-blocking immune regulatory effects mediated by PD-L1, such as binding to the immune checkpoint molecule PD-1 in the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, the antibodies include fusions with the cytokine inhibitory factor, IL10, which can replenish and/or activate CD8+ T-cell cytotoxicity in the tumor microenvironment. The present disclosure also provides methods of using the antibodies (and compositions thereof) to treat diseases and conditions responsive to decreasing, inhibiting and/or blocking immune regulatory function or activity mediated by PD1 binding to PD-L1.

This disclosure features methods and compositions for treating diseases of the gastrointestinal tract with IL-10 or an IL-10 agonist.

Disclosed are methods of identifying immunosuppressive T.sub.R1 regulatory T cells, including in methods of diagnosing the presence of immune tolerance, methods of producing immunosuppressive regulatory T cells, and methods of eliciting immune tolerance in a subject. These methods include screening T cells to detect Eomes.sup.+IL-10.sup.+ T cells or expressing recombinant Eomes in T cell populations to generate immunosuppressive regulatory T cells.