Mucosal or enteral administration of biologically active macromolecules

1 - 92 . (canceled)

93 . A method of systemically delivering a biologically active, recombinant biomolecule, in a biologically active form, to a subject in need thereof, the method comprising, orally or mucosally administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of plant cells expressing an exogenous biologically active recombinant biomolecule, thereby systemically delivering the biologically active recombinant biomolecule, in a biologically active form, to the subject, wherein said biological activity of said biomolecule is not limited to the elicitation of an immune response for vaccination.

94 . The method of claim 93 wherein said plant cells are administered as isolated cells.

95 . The method of claim 93 wherein said plant cells are administered as dehydrated plant cells.

96 . The method of claim 93 , wherein said biomolecule is selected from the group consisting of a hormone, a growth factor, a protease, an extra-cellular matrix protein, an enzyme, an infectious viral protein, an antisense oligonucleotide, a dsRNA, a ribozyme and a DNAzyme.

97 . The method of claims 93 , wherein said biomolecule is an enzyme and said biological activity is a catalytic activity.

98 . The method of claims 93 , wherein said biomolecule is a hormone and said biological activity is a ligand binding activity.

99 . The method of claim 93 , wherein said recombinant biomolecule is a human lysosomal enzyme.

100 . The method of claim 93 , wherein said recombinant biomolecule is a human growth hormone.

101 . The method of claim 93 , wherein said recombinant biomolecule is FSH.

102 . The method of claim 93 wherein said recombinant biomolecule is non-immunogenic in said subject.

103 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising as an active ingredient, plant cells expressing an exogenous biologically active, recombinant biomolecule, in a biologically active form, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein said biologically active, recombinant biomolecule is selected from the group consisting of a hormone, a growth factor, a protease, an extra-cellular matrix protein, an enzyme, an infectious viral protein, an antisense oligonucleotide, a dsRNA, a. ribozyme and a DNAzyme.

104 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 103 , wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is a non-immunogenic carrier.

105 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 104 , wherein said pharmaceutically acceptable carrier does not stimulate the gut associated lymphatic tissue.

106 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 103 , wherein said biomolecule is an enzyme and said biological activity is a catalytic activity.

107 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 103 , wherein said biomolecule is a hormone and said biological activity is a ligand binding activity.

108 . The pharmaceutical composition of claim 103 , wherein said expressing said exogenous biologically active biomolecule is in a manner such that upon orally or mucosally administering said composition to said subject an increase of said biologically active molecule and said biological activity is detected in a tissue of said subject.

109 . A unit dosage form for local delivery of a biologically active biomolecule to a tissue of a subject, the unit dosage form comprising, a therapeutically effective amount of plant cells expressing the exogenous biologically active biomolecule, wherein said biomolecule is selected from the group consisting of a hormone, a growth factor, a protease, an extra-cellular matrix protein, an enzyme, an infectious viral protein, an antisense oligonucleotide, a dsRNA, a ribozyme and a DNAzyme.

110 . A unit dosage form for systemic delivery of a biologically active biomolecule in a subject the unit dosage form comprising, a therapeutically effective amount of plant cells expressing the exogenous biologically active biomolecule, wherein said biological activity is not limited to the elicitation of an immune response for vaccination.

111 . A method for treating a disease in a subject-in-need thereof, the method comprising enterally or mucosally administering to the subject a. therapeutically effective amount of plant cells expressing an exogenous biologically active biomolecule, wherein said exogenous biological activity is not limited to the elicitation of an immune response, thereby treating the disease in the subject.

112 . The method of claim 111 , wherein said biologically active biomolecule comprise recombinant Human glucocerebrosidase protein and the disease is Gaucher's disease.

113 . The method of claim 111 , wherein said biologically active biomolecule comprise recombinant Human alpha-galactosidase protein and the disease is Fabry disease.

114 . The method of claim 111 , wherein said biologically active biomolecule comprise recombinant Human antibody protein and the disease is cancer.

115 . The method of claim 111 , wherein said biologically active molecule comprises recombinant Human GH and the disease is growth retardation.

116 . The method of claim 111 , wherein said biologically active molecule comprises recombinant FSH and the disease is infertility.

117 . The method of claim 111 , wherein said biomolecule is an enzyme and said biological activity is a catalytic activity.

118 . The method of claim 111 wherein said biomolecule is a hormone and said biological activity is a ligand binding activity.

119 . The method of claim 111 , wherein said expressing an exogenous biologically active biomolecule is in a manner such that upon orally or mucosally administering said composition to said subject an increase of said biologically active molecule and said biological activity is detected in a tissue of said subject, wherein said exogenous biological activity is not limited to the elicitation of an immune response.