This disclosure features methods and compositions for treating diseases of the gastrointestinal tract with an immunomodulator.

The invention provides methods for identifying protein modulators (e.g., antibody agonists) of eukaryotic cells. The methods typically involve expressing a combinatorial agent library (e.g., via lentiviral vectors) inside a eukaryotic cell type (e.g., a mammalian cell) and then directly selecting for agents (e.g., antibodies) that are agonist of a target molecule (e.g., a signaling receptor) that modulates a phenotype of or elicits a cellular response in the cell. Some related methods involve co-culturing a cell expressing a combinatorial agent library and a second cell, and then selecting agents that modulate a phenotype of or elicit a cellular response in the second cell. Preferably, the agents are antibodies and are introduced into and expressed in the starting cells under conditions each individual cell expresses no more than 3 different members of the antibody library. In addition, the invention provides methods for identifying protein agonists that capable of reprograming or trans-differentiating a target cell. Also provided in the invention are specific agonist antibodies of signaling receptors or biomolecules that modulate a phenotype or effectuate a cellular response in a eukaryotic cell (e.g., agonist antibodies of EpoR, TpoR or G-CSFR). Further provided in the invention are methods for selecting from combinatorial antibody libraries bispecific antibodies that can regulate cell phenotypes.

Described herein are compositions and methods relating to LAP-binding agents, including, for example, anti-LAP antibodies, and to their use in methods of treatment of cancer. LAP-binding agents affected both systemic and intra-tumor immunity and were shown effective to treat a broad spectrum of cancer types.

A method of eliminating the risk of JCV activation in a subject undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, by administering an effective amount of a gene editing composition directed toward at least one target sequence in the JCV genome, cleaving the target sequence in the JCV genome, disrupting the JCV genome, eliminating the JCV infection, eliminating the risk of JCV activation, and treating the subject with an immunosuppressive therapy. A pharmaceutical composition including at least one isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a CRISPR-associated endonuclease and at least one gRNA having a spacer sequence complementary to a target sequence in a JCV DNA, the isolated nucleic acid sequences being included in at least one expression vector. Pharmaceutical compositions including at least one isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding at least one TALEN, at least one ZFN, and gene editing composition of C2c1, C2c3, TevCas9, Archaea Cas9, CasY.1-CasY.6, CasX, or argonaute protein, which target at least one nucleotide sequence of the JCV genome.

Provided are a method of efficiently producing an sIL-2R antigen in an amount necessary for antibody generation, and a method of producing an anti-sIL-2R antibody using the antigen. Specifically, provided are a method of producing soluble interleukin-2 receptor, including culturing SCC-3 cells and recovering soluble interleukin-2 receptor from a culture of the cells, and a method of producing an anti-soluble interleukin-2 receptor antibody, including immunizing an animal with sIL-2R produced by the method.

Antibody formulations are described comprising a mixture of an anti-α4β7 antibody, an antioxidant or chelator, and at least one free amino acid. The disclosed formulations may have improved stability, reduced aggregate formation, or both. The present invention further provides a safe dosing regimen of these antibody formulations that is easy to follow, and which results in a therapeutically effective amount of the anti-α4β7 antibody in vivo.

Provided herein are methods and compositions for treating inflammatory diseases by administering to the subject an effective dose of an anti-α.sub.5 agent.

In some embodiments, the invention provides a method for identifying an agent beneficial to treat a patient with inflammatory bowel disease comprising: a) determining a status of an intestinal barrier in the patient; and b) categorizing the status as severe dysfunction or moderate dysfunction, wherein a patient categorized as having severe dysfunction is identified as a patient who will benefit from treatment with an agent selected from the group consisting of an anti-TNF agent and/or an anti-IL-12/23 agent, and a patient categorized as having moderate dysfunction is identified as a patient who will benefit from treatment with an anti-integrin agent, an anti-janus kinase agent, and/or and a sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor agonist agent.

The present invention provides a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) fusion protein comprising from N-terminus to C-terminus: (i) a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) comprising V.sub.H and V.sub.L, wherein scFv has an activity against CD47, (ii) a transmembrane domain, (iii) at least one co-stimulatory domains, and (iv) an activating domain. In one embodiment, the scFv is derived from a humanized anti-CD47 antibody. The present invention also provides T cells modified to express the CAR of the present invention.

Methods of treating gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders such as inflammatory bowel diseases including Crohn's disease are provided. Also provided are methods of administering and dosing integrin beta7 antagonists, such as anti-integrin beta7 antibodies. In addition, methods of administrating and dosing such integrin beta7 antagonists to induce remission or to induce and maintain remission of Crohn's disease are provided.