Cell-penetrating bacterial E3-ubiqitin-ligases for use in immunotherapy

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/022,827, filed on Mar. 17, 2016, which claims benefit from International Application No. PCT/EP2014/070142, which was filed on Sep. 22, 2014 which in turn claims priority to European Patent Application No. 13185412.7 filed on Sep. 20, 2013, wherein the entireties of said patent applications are incorporated herein by reference. Also, the entire contents of the ASCII text file entitled “G6113-00010 SL.txt” having a size of 233,937 bytes, and created on Jul. 20, 2018, is incorporated herein by reference.

The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which has been submitted electronically and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy is name G6113_00010SL.text and is 63 bytes in size.

The present invention relates to isolated recombinant effector proteins of type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacteria of the genus Salmonella or Shigella or variants, fragments or immunomodulatory domains thereof, for use in immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy is the treatment of disease by inducing, enhancing, or suppressing an immune response. The active agents of immunotherapy are called immunomodulators. The present invention relates to the use of cell-penetrating bacterial E3 ubiqitin ligases from bacteria of the genus Salmonella or Shigella as immunomodulators. Agents that inhibit or prevent activity of the immune system are called immunosuppressives. Optionally the present invention relates to the use of cell-penetrating bacterial E3 ubiqitin ligases from bacteria of the genus Salmonella or Shigella as immunosuppressives.

In particular the present invention relates to cell-penetrating recombinant effector proteins of type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacteria of the genus Salmonella or Shigella that modulate cytokines and/or cytokine receptors of eukaryotic cells and/or eukaryotic genes which respond to cytokines, after said effector proteins have autonomously penetrated into said eukaryotic cells. Alternatively the present invention relates to of cell-penetrating variants, fragments or immunomodulatory domains of cell-penetrating effector proteins of type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacteria of the genus Salmonella or Shigella , wherein said variants, fragments or immunomodulatory domains modulate cytokines and/or cytokine receptors of eukaryotic cells and/or eukaryotic genes which respond to cytokines, after said variants, fragments or immunomodulatory domains have autonomously penetrated into said eukaryotic cells.

In one aspect the present invention relates to the use of isolated recombinant effector proteins of type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacteria of the genus Salmonella or Shigella , wherein said effector proteins are characterized in that they are recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized, comprise an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain, preferably an Novel E3 ubiquitin ligase, optionally comprise at least one leucine-rich repeat and are cell-penetrating proteins, which translocate into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS, or variants, fragments or immunomodulatory domains of said effector proteins, for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for regulating inflammatory reactions of the immune system, treating diseases caused by autoimmunity, treating acute inflammation or chronic inflammation, treating of inflammatory disorders, and/or suppressing the immune system.

Moreover the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition, comprising an isolated effector protein of a type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacterium of the genus Salmonella or Shigella , wherein the effector protein is characterized in that it is recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized, comprises an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain, optionally comprises at least one leucine-rich repeat, and is a cell-penetrating protein, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS.

The present invention further relates to the use of cell-penetrating effector proteins of type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacteria of the genus Salmonella or Shigella or variants, fragments and immunomodulatory domains of said effector proteins, for delivering cargo molecules into eukaryotic cells. Preferably the present invention relates to the use of cell-penetrating effector proteins of type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacteria of the genus Salmonella or Shigella or variants, fragments and immunomodulatory domains of said effector proteins, for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for delivering linked cargo molecules into eukaryotic cells. Preferably said effector proteins, or variants, fragments and immunomodulatory domains thereof, that are linked to said cargo molecules modulate cytokines and/or cytokine receptors of eukaryotic cells and/or eukaryotic genes which respond to cytokines, after said variants, fragments or immunomodulatory domains have autonomously penetrated into said eukaryotic cells.

Furthermore the present invention relates to the use of an isolated effector protein of a type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacterium of the genus Salmonella or Shigella , wherein the effector protein is characterized in that it is recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized, comprises an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain, preferably a Novel E3 ubiquitin ligase, optionally comprises at least one—leucine-rich repeat, is a cell-penetrating protein, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS, or the use of a variant or fragment of said effector protein for delivering at least one cargo molecule across the membrane of a eukaryotic cell, wherein the fusion construct of cargo molecule and said effector protein or variant or fragment thereof is a cell-penetrating construct, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS.

Hence the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising an isolated effector protein of a type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacterium of the genus Salmonella or Shigella , wherein the effector protein is characterized in that it is recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized, comprises an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain, preferably a Novel E3 ubiquitin ligase, optionally comprises at least one leucine-rich repeat, is a cell-penetrating protein, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS, or the use of a variant or fragment of said effector protein for delivering at least one cargo molecule across the membrane of a eukaryotic cell, wherein the fusion construct of cargo molecule and said effector protein or variant or fragment thereof is a cell-penetrating construct, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS.

Immunosuppression involves reactions that reduce the activation or efficiency of the immune system. Immunosuppressive reactions are either due to intentional medical actions or derivable from a natural background and are, thus, largely pathogenic for the body.

In the first case of intentional medical actions, immunosuppressive activity of compounds is used for the modulation, in particular the controlled and purposeful inhibition or prevention of the activity of the immune system. The corresponding compounds are generally summarized as immunosuppressants or immuno-suppressive drugs. Immunosuppressive drugs are a heterogenic collection including the following groups: glucocorticoids, cytostatics, antibodies, drugs acting on immunophilins, TNF-binding proteins and interferons. Immunosuppressives are used, for example, to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs and tissues (e.g., bone marrow, heart, kidney, liver), treat autoimmune diseases or diseases that are most likely of autoimmune origin (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, systemic lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, Crohn's disease, Behcet's Disease, pemphigus, and ulcerative colitis) or treat non-autoimmune inflammatory diseases (e.g., long term allergic asthma control).

In the second case of natural background, immunosuppression can occur, for example, in malnutrition, aging, many types of cancer (such as leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma), and certain chronic infections such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The unwanted effect of this immunosuppression is immunodeficiency that results in increased susceptibility to pathogens such as bacteria and virus. Moreover many microbial pathogens have evolved, in order to successfully infect a host organism, intriguing mechanisms to subvert host defenses (Sansonetti, 2004). These microbes circumvent and undermine innate and specific host defenses.

One of the most fascinating and widespread pathogenicity modules of Gram-negative pathogens is the type III secretion system (T3SS) that targets essential cytoplasmic processes of the host cell by directly injecting so-called effector proteins into the cytoplasm via a molecular injection machine (‘molecular syringe’) (Cornelis, 2002a; Cornelis, 2002b; Cornelis & Wolf-Watz, 1997). Bacterial effector proteins interfere with signaling mechanisms of the host cells, including those triggering immune responses. Especially pathogenic bacteria of the genus Yersinia, Shigella , or Salmonella harbor a wide range of effector proteins that target signaling mechanisms such as MAPK signaling cascades or pathways leading to repression of NF-κB activation (Matsumoto & Young, 2009). Moreover numerous effector proteins of pathogenic bacteria, which utilize type III or IV secretion systems to deliver effector proteins into host cells, usurp the host ubiquitin pathways (Hicks and Galan, 2010; Angot, 2007).

Ubiquitinylation results in the covalent attachment of ubiquitin to a lysine residue on a target protein. Following the initial conjugation, subsequent ubiquitin molecules can be ligated to one of seven lysines in the previously attached ubiquitin molecule, resulting in polyubiquitinylation of various linkages. Therefore, a substrate can be monoubiquitinylated at a single lysine residue, multi-ubiquitinylated at multiple lysine residues, or polyubiquitinylated at one or more lysine residues. The type of ubiquitinylation and the topology of the ubiquitin chains formed direct substrate fate. Ubiquitinylation can signal for proteasome-dependent degradation or function as non-proteolytic signals important for DNA repair, signal transduction and vesicular trafficking.

Ubiquitinylation involves an enzymatic cascade resulting in the formation of an isopeptide bond between ubiquitin and internal lysine residues of a substrate protein. This process involves an ubiquitin-activating enzyme (E1), which forms a thioester bond between a catalytic cysteine and the carboxy terminal glycine residue of ubiquitin. The ubiquitin is then transferred to an ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2). Finally, an ubiquitin ligase (E3) facilitates the covalent conjugation of ubiquitin from an ubiquitin-loaded E2 to one or more lysine residues in the substrate. Therefore, E3 ubiquitin ligases confer specificity to the reaction through substrate binding. E3 ubiquitin ligases are defined by their ability to facilitate the transfer of ubiquitin from a cognate E2 to a specific substrate. There are two major known types of E3 ubiquitin ligases in eukaryotes, which possess distinct structural and mechanistic properties: the RING (really interesting new gene)/U-box domain and the HECT (homologous to E6-associated protein C terminus) domain. Bacterial effector proteins belonging to these ubiquitin ligase families are e.g. NleG2-3 from Escherichia coli ssp., LubX from Legionella spp. or SopA from Salmonella ssp (Hicks and Galan, 2010; Angot, 2007). In addition to that, another family of E3 ubiquitin ligases has been described that possesses a structural domain (termed NEL-domain for Novel E3 Ligase), which is distinct from either the RING or HECT domains (see e.g. Hicks and Galan, 2010). NEL E3 ligases comprise a large family of a bacterial effector proteins encoded by pathogenic bacteria, including Shigella ssp., Salmonella ssp., Yersinia spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Escherichia coli ssp. Examples of bacterial NEL E3 Ubiquitin ligases are IpaH1, IpaH1.4, IpaH2, IpaH2.5, IpaH3, IpaH4, IpaH4.5, IpaH5, IpaH6, IpaH7, IpaH7.8, IpaH9.8 (from Shigella spp.); Slrp, SspH1, SspH2 (from Salmonella spp.); YPA_3361, YPA_3364 (from Yersinia spp.); PflO1_4099, PflO1_4565, PP_2212, PP_2394, PSPTO_1492, PSPTO_4093 (from Pseudomonas spp.); EcoI5_01000486, EcoI5_01001536, EcoI5_01001967, EcoI5_01003958, EcoI5_01004202, EcoI5_01004539, EcoI5_01004764, EcoI5_01004830, and EcoI5_01004885 (from Escherichia coli spp.) (Hicks and Galan, 2010). Several of these bacterial NEL E3 ligases comprise an N-terminal leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain and are therefore also classified as leucine-rich repeat (LRR) proteins. If said LRR is a LRR of the LPX-subtype, the proteins are called effector proteins of the LPX-subtype or effector proteins of LPX-family (Miao et al, 1999). Examples of effector proteins which comprise a NEL-domain and belong to the LPX-subtype are SspH1, SspH2, SlrP, IpaH4.5, IpaH7.8, and IpaH9.8.

For T3SS-dependent translocation of effector proteins, bacterial attachment to target cells is essential. Only cells that are contacted directly are infected via the T3SS injection machine. Surprisingly, it was recently shown that the Yersinia protein YopM, a secreted effector protein, is able to translocate into eukaryotic cells independently of the T3SS. Besides a T3SS-dependent translocation, YopM is able to autonomously penetrate the eukaryotic cell membrane and integrate into the cell cytosol (Rüter et al, 2010; Scharnert et al, 2013). It was suggested that the N-terminal α-helices of YopM mediate autonomous cell-penetration. Moreover it was shown that YopM can thereby deliver heterologous cargos into eukaryotic cells. Furthermore it was shown that YopM down-regulates the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e. g. TNFα, IL-12, IL-15, and IL-18) after autonomous penetration into host cells (Rüter et al, 2010).

Cell-penetrating peptides (cell-penetrating proteins, cell-permeable protein, CPPs) are proteins that are able to cross the cell membrane on their own. CPPs such as the trans-activator of transcription (Tat) protein encoded by the human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) are usually relatively short proteins or peptides (5-40 amino acids) with the ability to enter cells by different mechanisms (Frankel & Pabo, 1988) (Green & Loewenstein, 1988). Since the early studies on CPPs, numerous natural and synthetic peptides have been described to penetrate eukaryotic plasma membranes and deliver heterogeneous cargos into the host cell (Langel, 2011). The uptake mechanisms of most CPPs are poorly understood. Various uptake mechanisms of CPPs are discussed in the literature. It appears that different mechanisms can be involved in uptake of the diverse CPPs rather than a general mechanism. Initial binding of CPP to the plasma membrane seems to depend on electrostatic interactions of positively charged amino acids with negatively charged plasma membrane components. Two different models are currently discussed describing potential uptake mechanisms that follow the initial binding of the CPP to the plasma membrane. CPP uptake might be mediated by different endocytic uptake mechanisms including macropinocytosis, Clathrin-dependent and independent endocytosis, and Caveolae-dependent endocytosis, wherein after uptake, CPP need to escape from endosomal compartments during intra-cellular transport. Moreover internalization of the CPPs might occur by direct membrane penetration mechanisms, including inverted micelle and pore formation (Trabulo et al, 2010). CPPs have the ability to cross cellular membranes, either alone or in association with cargo molecules.

YopM was the first identified bacterial CPP and opened the class of bacteria-derived CPPs within the heterogeneous group of CPPs (Rüter et al, 2010). YopM shares the ability of known CPPs to translocate across eukaryotic plasma membranes and it has the capacity to deliver molecular cargos such as GFP intracellularly. However, YopM does not show sequence homologies to known CPPs, indicating unique features that promote the uptake of YopM.

Crossing the plasma membrane is a prerequisite for intracellular targeted drug and/or compound delivery (for example in gene therapy where the gene/nucleic acid has to be delivered to an intracellular compartment). Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) are known to transport cargo molecules attached to them into cells primarily by endocytosis. Nevertheless, there is an ongoing need in the art to provide compounds, which are able to cross the plasma membrane of higher cells. Especially in the field of immunotherapy, there is a great need for improved strategies for delivering immunomodulatory agents into cells. Moreover, self-delivering immunomodulatory agents would greatly improve the current immunotherapeutic strategies.

Although the above-mentioned immunosuppressive drugs are valuable medical tools, they are not without side effects and risks. Because the majority of them act non-selectively, the immune system is less able to resist infections and the spread of malignant cells. Furthermore, the production of the majority of immunomodulatory drugs is time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, there is a need for the provision of new, effective, cell-specific, selectively acting, and inexpensive immunomodulators, particularly immunosuppressants, preferably with lower side effects and risks.

The solution to the above-indicated technical problem is achieved by providing the embodiments as characterized herein and summarized below.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition A, comprising an isolated effector protein of a type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacterium of the genus Salmonella or Shigella , wherein the effector protein is characterized in that it

a) is recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized, b) comprises an E3 ubiquitin ligase repeat, c) optionally comprises at least one leucine-rich repeat, and d) is a cell-penetrating protein, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS.

Alternatively, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition B, comprising a variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain of an effector protein as defined in the in the previous paragraph.

Optionally the pharmaceutical composition B can be characterized in that said variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain is a cell-penetrating protein, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS.

The pharmaceutical composition B can be characterized in that optionally said variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain comprises an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain and optionally at least one leucine-rich repeat.

Optionally, the pharmaceutical composition B can be characterized in that said variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain comprises an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain and optionally at least one leucine-rich repeat.

The pharmaceutical composition A or B as described above can be further characterized in that said type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacterium is classified as Salmonella bongori, Salmonella enterica, Salmonella subterranean, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella pullorum, Salmonella dublin, Salmonella arizonae, Salmonella choleraesius, Shigella flexneri, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella sonnei , or Shigella boydii.

Optionally the pharmaceutical composition A or B can be characterized in that the E3 ubiquitin ligase domain is classified as Novel E3 Ligase.

Optionally the pharmaceutical composition A or B can be characterized in that the E3 ubiquitin ligase domain is closer to the C-terminus of said effector protein than to the N-terminus of said effector protein.

Optionally the pharmaceutical composition A or B can be characterized in that the leucine-rich repeat(s) is/are a leucine-rich repeat of the LPX-subtype.

Optionally the pharmaceutical composition A can be characterized in that the leucine-rich repeat(s) is/are closer to the N-terminus of said effector protein than to the C-terminus of said effector protein.

Optionally the pharmaceutical composition A or B can be characterized in that said effector protein is a bacterial effector protein of the LPX-Subtype.

Optionally the pharmaceutical composition A or B can be characterized in that said effector protein is SlrP, SspH1, SspH2, IpaH1.4, IpaH2.5, IpaH3, IpaH4.5, IpaH7.8, and IpaH9.8.

Optionally the pharmaceutical composition A or B can be characterized in that said effector protein has an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, or SEQ ID NO: 9.

Optionally the pharmaceutical composition A or B can be characterized in that said effector protein is encoded by a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17, or SEQ ID NO: 18.

Optionally the pharmaceutical composition A or B can be characterized in that said effector protein, variant, fragment or immunomodulatory domain comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 26, or SEQ ID NO: 27.

Optionally the pharmaceutical composition A or B can be characterized in that said effector protein, variant, fragment or immunomodulatory domain comprises at least one Leucine-rich repeat, preferably at least one Leucine-rich repeat that is comprised in an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 35, or SEQ ID NO: 36.

Optionally the pharmaceutical composition A or B can be characterized in that said effector protein, variant, fragment or immunomodulatory domain comprises at least one amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 37, SEQ ID NO: 38, SEQ ID NO: 39, SEQ ID NO: 40, SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 44, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, SEQ ID NO: 49, SEQ ID NO: 50, SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 57, SEQ ID NO: 58, SEQ ID NO: 59, SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65 or SEQ ID NO: 550, and/or at least one amino acid sequence that corresponds to a C-terminally or N-terminally truncated fragment of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 37, SEQ ID NO: 38, SEQ ID NO: 39, SEQ ID NO: 40, SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 44, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, SEQ ID NO: 49, SEQ ID NO: 50, SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 57, SEQ ID NO: 58, SEQ ID NO: 59, SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65, or SEQ ID NO: 550.

Optionally the pharmaceutical composition A or B can be characterized in that the composition comprises no auxiliary agent which can cause the penetration of said effector protein into a eukaryotic cell.

Optionally the pharmaceutical composition A or B can be characterized in that the composition comprises no auxiliary agent selected from the group consisting of T3SS-containing bacterium, bacterium of the genus Salmonella or Shigella , and cell-penetrating molecule, wherein “cell-penetrating molecule” includes CPPs that are different from an effector protein as defined above and cell-penetrating nanoparticles.

Optionally the pharmaceutical composition A or B can be characterized in that said effector protein or variant, fragment or immunomodulatory domain thereof is linked to a cell-specific targeting agent.

Optionally the pharmaceutical composition A or B can be characterized in that said effector protein or variant, fragment or immunomodulatory domain thereof is linked to a cargo molecule, wherein optionally said cargo molecule displays a therapeutical and/or diagnostic activity and/or wherein optionally said cargo molecule comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of nucleic acids, polypeptides, organic molecules, small organic molecules, metals, nanoparticles, viruses, modified viruses, viral vectors, antibodies and/or plasmids.

Optionally the pharmaceutical composition A or B can be characterized in that said effector protein or variant, fragment or immunomodulatory domain thereof ubiquitinates itself and/or eukaryotic proteins after said effector protein or variant, fragment or immunomodulatory domain has autonomously penetrated into a eukaryotic cell.

Optionally the pharmaceutical composition A or B can be characterized in that said effector protein or variant, fragment or immunomodulatory domain thereof modulates cellular pathway(s) of the innate immune system of eukaryotic cells after it has autonomously penetrated into said eukaryotic cells.

Optionally the pharmaceutical composition A or B can be characterized in that said effector protein or variant, fragment or immunomodulatory domain thereof modulates cytokines and/or cytokine receptors of eukaryotic cells and/or eukaryotic genes which respond to cytokines of eukaryotic cells after said effector protein or variant, fragment or immunomodulatory domain has autonomously penetrated into said eukaryotic cells.

Optionally the pharmaceutical composition A or B can be characterized in that said effector protein or variant, fragment or immunomodulatory domain thereof downregulates the expression of cytokines and/or cytokine receptors after said effector protein or variant, fragment or immunomodulatory domain has autonomously penetrated into said eukaryotic cells.

Preferably the pharmaceutical composition A or B can be used in immunomodulatory therapy of animals or humans.

Optionally the pharmaceutical composition A or B can be used in immunosuppressive therapy of animals or humans.

Preferably the pharmaceutical composition A or B can be used in the regulation of inflammatory reactions of the immune system, treatment of diseases caused by autoimmunity, acute inflammation or chronic inflammation, treatment of inflammatory disorders, and/or for suppressing the immune system.

Furthermore, the pharmaceutical composition A or B may be for use in delivering cargo molecules across the cell membrane of a eukaryotic cell.

In one embodiment the present invention provides a method of treatment of a disease or of diseases caused by autoimmunity, treatment of acute inflammation, chronic inflammation, inflammatory disorders, pathogenic inflammatory reactions of the immune system, and/or a method of suppressing the immune system in a subject, comprising administering a in a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition A or B as defined above to said subject.

In another embodiment the present invention provides a kit comprising the pharmaceutical composition A or B as defined above.

In a further aspect the present invention relates to the use of an isolated effector protein of a type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacterium of the genus Salmonella or Shigella , wherein the effector protein is characterized in that it

a) is recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized b) comprises an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain, preferably an Novel E3 ubiquitin ligase c) optionally comprises at least one leucine-rich domain; d) is a cell-penetrating protein, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS;

or to the use of a variant, fragment or immunomodulatory domain of said effector protein, for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for regulating inflammatory reactions of the immune system, treating diseases caused by autoimmunity, treating acute inflammation or chronic inflammation, treating of inflammatory disorders, and/or suppressing the immune system.

In another aspect the present invention relates to the use of an isolated effector protein of a type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacterium of the genus Salmonella or Shigella , wherein the effector protein is characterized in that it

a) is recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized b) comprises an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain, preferably an Novel E3 ubiquitin ligase c) optionally comprises at least one leucine-rich domain; d) is a cell-penetrating protein, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS;

or to the use of a variant, fragment of said effector protein for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for delivering at least one cargo molecule across the membrane of a eukaryotic cell, wherein the fusion construct of cargo molecule and said effector protein or variant or fragment thereof is a cell-penetrating construct, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS. Additionally, the effector protein can be e) linked to the at least one cargo molecule.

Preferably said delivered cargo molecule comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of nucleic acids, polypeptides, organic molecules, small organic molecules, metals, dye, nano-particles, viruses, modified viruses, viral vectors, antibodies and/or plasmids.

Finally, the present invention provides isolated effector proteins of type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacteria of the genus Salmonella or Shigella or variants, fragments or immunomodulatory domains thereof linked to a cargo molecule and/or cell-specific targeting agent. These effector proteins can be used in immunotherapy.

The present inventors identified several effector proteins of T3SS-containing bacteria of the genus Salmonella and Shigella as cell-penetrating proteins. Doing so, the present inventors identified a new subclass of bacteria-derived CPPs, all being effector proteins that comprise a C-terminal Novel E3 ubiquitin ligase domain. The present inventors first identified SspH1, SspH2, IpaH1.4, IpaH2.5, IpaH3, IpaH4.5, IpaH7.8, IpaH9.8 and SlrP as bacterial cell-penetrating proteins. Moreover the inventors succeeded in predicting protein transduction domains (PTDs) within said effector proteins and thereby identified several potential cell-penetration mediating domains within these proteins. The structural similarities of SspH1, SspH2, IpaH1.4, IpaH2.5, IpaH3, IpaH4.5, IpaH7.8, IpaH9.8 and SlrP indicate a general concept of T3SS-independent translocation. Interestingly the inventor demonstrated that cell-penetration of recombinant SspH2 affects membrane integrity of HeLa cells with no effects on cell viability, suggesting a potential direct uptake mechanism, e.g. by the formation of a transient membrane pore.

On the one, the present invention discloses SspH1, SspH2, IpaH1.4, IpaH2.5, IpaH3, IpaH4.5, IpaH7.8, IpaH9.8 and SlrP as novel cell-penetrating effector proteins and provides the use these effector proteins as novel CPPs to deliver cargo molecules into eukaryotic cells.

As mentioned above, SspH1, SspH2, IpaH1.4, IpaH 2.5, IpaH3, IpaH4.5, IpaH7.8, IpaH9.8 and SlrP all comprise a C-terminal Novel E3 ligase (NEL) domain and, apart from IpaH2.5 and IpaH1.4, they belong to effector proteins of the LPX-subtype. Effector proteins of the LPX-subtype share the presence of a Leucine-rich repeat (LRR) motif and an N-terminal α-helical structure (Miao et al, 1999).

Several bacterial effector proteins, which comprise an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain are known to interfere with the host immune response after being injected into host cells by the T3SS (Angot, 2007; Hicks and Galan, 2010). Surprisingly the present inventors found out that SspH1, an effector protein and E3-ubiquitin ligase of Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium , is able to modulate the eukaryotic immune response when contacted with eukaryotic cells in an isolated, recombinantly expressed form. As depicted in the examples the inventors showed that recombinant SspH1 is able to autonomously penetrate into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of the Salmonella T3SS. Following translocation recombinant SspH1 localises to the cytoplasm as well as to the nucleus of the eukaryotic cell and surprisingly acts as functional E3 ubiquitin ligase that is able to self-ubiquitinate and form polyubiquitin chains within the eukaryotic host cell. Furthermore, the inventors found out that recombinant SspH1 binds and ubiquitinates the host kinase PKN1 and downregulates the expression of IL-8 in eukaryotic cells after it has autonomously penetrated into said eukaryotic cells.

Accordingly the present inventors not only identified SspH1, SspH2, IpaH1.4, IpaH2.5, IpaH3, IpaH4.5, IpaH7.8, IpaH9.8 and SlrP as novel cell-penetrating proteins, they also found out that these effector proteins are promising self-delivering immunotherapeutic agents.

In sum, the inventors revealed that bacterial E3 ubiquitin ligases are able to modulate the immune response of eukaryotic cells in the absence of the pathogenic bacteria from which they derive. The inventors demonstrated that isolated recombinant NEL effector proteins are able to interfere with pathways of the innate immune system of eukaryotic cells after having autonomously penetrating into said eukaryotic cells.

Hence, on the other, the present invention discloses the use of isolated recombinantly expressed or chemically synthesized bacterial cell-penetrating effector proteins, which comprise an immunomodulatory E3-ubiquitin-ligase domain, as immune therapeutic agents.

As summarized above the present invention provides the use of cell-penetrating bacterial E3 ubiqitin ligases from bacteria of the genus Salmonella or Shigella as immunomodulators.

In particular embodiments the present invention provides cell-penetrating recombinant effector proteins of type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacteria of the genus Salmonella or Shigella that modulate cytokines and/or cytokine receptors of eukaryotic cells and/or eukaryotic genes which respond to cytokines, after said effector proteins have autonomously penetrated into said eukaryotic cells. Alternatively the present invention provides cell-penetrating variants, fragments or immunomodulatory domains of cell-penetrating effector proteins of type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacteria of the genus Salmonella or Shigella , wherein said variants, fragments or immunomodulatory domains modulate cytokines and/or cytokine receptors of eukaryotic cells and/or eukaryotic genes which respond to cytokines, after said variants, fragments or immunomodulatory domains have autonomously penetrated into said eukaryotic cells.

In further embodiments the present invention provides the use of isolated recombinant effector proteins of type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacteria of the genus Salmonella or Shigella , wherein said effector proteins are characterized in that they are recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized, comprise an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain, preferably an Novel E3 ubiquitin ligase, optionally comprise at least one leucine-rich repeat and are cell-penetrating proteins, which translocate into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS, or variants, fragments or immunomodulatory domains of said effector proteins, for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for regulating inflammatory reactions of the immune system, treating diseases caused by autoimmunity, treating acute inflammation or chronic inflammation, treating of inflammatory disorders, and/or suppressing the immune system.

Moreover the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition, comprising an isolated effector protein of a type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacterium of the genus Salmonella or Shigella , wherein the effector protein is characterized in that it is recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized, comprises an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain, optionally comprises at least one leucine-rich repeat, and is a cell-penetrating protein, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS.

In other embodiments the present invention further provides the use of cell-penetrating effector proteins of type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacteria of the genus Salmonella or Shigella or variants, fragments and immunomodulatory domains of said effector proteins, for delivering cargo molecules into eukaryotic cells. Preferably the present invention relates to the use of cell-penetrating effector proteins of type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacteria of the genus Salmonella or Shigella or variants, fragments and immunomodulatory domains of said effector proteins, for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for delivering linked cargo molecules into eukaryotic cells. Preferably said effector proteins, or variants, fragments and immunomodulatory domains thereof, that are linked to said cargo molecules modulate cytokines and/or cytokine receptors of eukaryotic cells and/or eukaryotic genes which respond to cytokines, after said variants, fragments or immunomodulatory domains have autonomously penetrated into said eukaryotic cells.

Further embodiments of the present invention provide the use of an isolated effector protein of a type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacterium of the genus Salmonella or Shigella , wherein the effector protein is characterized in that it is recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized, comprises an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain, preferably a Novel E3 ubiquitin ligase, optionally comprises at least one leucine-rich repeat, is a cell-penetrating protein, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS, or the use of a variant or fragment of said effector protein for delivering at least one cargo molecule across the membrane of a eukaryotic cell, wherein the fusion construct of cargo molecule and said effector protein or variant or fragment thereof is a cell-penetrating construct, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS.

In another embodiment the invention relates to the use of an isolated effector protein of a type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacterium of the genus Salmonella or Shigella , wherein the effector protein is characterized in that it is recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized, optionally comprises an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain, optionally comprises at least one leucine-rich repeat, is a cell-penetrating protein, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS, and is linked to at least one cargo molecule, for delivering the at least one cargo molecule across the membrane of a eukaryotic cell, wherein the fusion construct of cargo molecule(s) and said effector protein is a cell-penetrating construct, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS.

Optionally the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising an isolated effector protein of a type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacterium of the genus Salmonella or Shigella , wherein the effector protein is characterized in that it is recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized, comprises an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain, preferably a Novel E3 ubiquitin ligase, optionally comprises at least one leucine-rich repeat, is a cell-penetrating protein, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS, or the use of a variant or fragment of said effector protein for delivering at least one cargo molecule across the membrane of a eukaryotic cell, wherein the fusion construct of cargo molecule and said effector protein or variant or fragment thereof is a cell-penetrating construct, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to an isolated effector protein of a type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacterium of the genus Salmonella or Shigella or a variant, fragment or immunomodulatory domain of said effector protein, wherein said effector protein, variant, fragment or immunomodulatory domain is linked to a cargo molecule and/or cell-specific targeting agent. In the context of the present application the following proteins are denoted as “compound(s) of the invention” or “polypeptide(s) of the invention”:

i) isolated effector protein of a type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacterium, preferably of the genus Salmonella or Shigella , wherein the effector protein is characterized in that it

a) is recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized, b) comprises an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain, c) optionally comprises at least one leucine-rich repeat, and d) is a cell-penetrating protein, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS;

ii) variants, fragments or immunomodulatory domain of an effector protein as defined under point i);

and

iii) SspH1, SspH2, IpaH1.4, IpaH2.5, IpaH3, IpaH4.5, IpaH7.8, IpaH9.8 and SlrP as well as variants, fragments or immunomodulatory domain of SspH1, SspH2, IpaH1.4, IpaH2.5, IpaH3, IpaH4.5, IpaH7.8, IpaH9.8 and SlrP.

The term “effector protein” as defined under point i), includes “variants”, “fragments” or “immunomodulatory domains” as defined under point ii).

The terms “SspH1”, “SspH2”, “IpaH1.4”, “IpaH2.5”, “IpaH3”, “IpaH4.5”, “IpaH7.8”, “IpaH9.8” and “SlrP”, as disclosed herein, include “variants”, “fragments” and “immunomodulatory domains” of these proteins, namely SspH1, SspH2, IpaH1.4, IpaH2.5, IpaH3, IpaH4.5, IpaH7.8, IpaH9.8 and SlrP.

The terms “effector protein” and “effector protein of the invention” and the like refer herein to effector proteins of bacteria which contain a type III secretion system (T3SS), as well as to fragments of said effector proteins, such as a immunomodulatory domain or protein transduction domain, and to variants of said effector proteins Preferably these effector proteins are secreted via the T3SS of a pathogenic gram-negative bacterium and promote infection and/or suppress host cell defenses. Hence the term “effector protein(s)” preferably refers herein to bacterial T3SS effector proteins. Effector proteins of the present invention preferably comprise an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain and interfere with the immune response of a subject. More preferably effector proteins of the present invention comprise an NEL E3 ubiquitin ligase domain and/or belong to effector proteins of the LPX subtype. Even more preferably effector proteins of the present invention are able to autonomously translocate in an isolated recombinant form into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS. Preferably effector proteins of the present invention modulate cytokines and/or cytokine receptors of eukaryotic cells and/or eukaryotic genes which respond to cytokines of eukaryotic cells after said effector proteins have autonomously penetrated into said eukaryotic cells. “Modulate” as used herein refers to inducing, enhancing, and/or suppressing. The present invention includes, but is not limited to the following effector proteins: SspH1 ( Salmonella -secreted protein), SspH2, IpaH1.4 (Invasion plasmid antigen), IpaH2.5, IpaH3, IpaH4.5, IpaH7.8, IpaH9.8 and SlrP.

The findings of the inventors strongly suggest that of effector protein of a type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacterium of the genus Salmonella or Shigella (beside the above listed), which are characterized in that they comprise an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain and optionally comprise at least one leucine-rich repeat are able to autonomously translocate into eukaryotic cells and modulate cytokines and/or cytokine receptors of eukaryotic cells and/or eukaryotic genes which respond to cytokines, after they have autonomously penetrated into eukaryotic cells. Hence said other effector proteins are also part of the invention, e.g. IpaH1, IpaH2, IpaH4, IpaH5, IpaH6, IpaH7, or SopA.

Moreover it is most likely that also effector proteins of other type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacteria than those of the genus Salmonella or Shigella , which are characterized in that they comprise an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain and optionally comprise at least one leucine-rich repeat are able to autonomously translocate into eukaryotic cells and modulate cytokines and/or cytokine receptors of eukaryotic cells and/or eukaryotic genes which respond to cytokines, after they have autonomously penetrated into eukaryotic cells.

Said other type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacteria include but are not limited to Yersinia spp., Escherichia spp., Pseudomonas spp. and Chlamydia spp. Hence effector proteins of the invention also include, e.g. YPA_3361, YPA_3364; PflO1_4099, PflO1_4565, PP_2212, PP_2394, PSPTO_1492, PSPTO_4093; EcoI5_01000486, EcoI5_01001536, EcoI5_01001967, EcoI5_01003958, EcoI5_01004202, EcoI5_01004539, EcoI5_01004764, EcoI5_01004830, and EcoI5_01004885 (Hicks and Galan, 2010).

The T3SS effector protein YopM as well as YopM variant and YopM fragment are not part of the present invention.

In particular embodiments the effector proteins of the invention have an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, or SEQ ID NO: 9 and are preferably encoded by a polynucleotide with an nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17, or SEQ ID NO: 18.

Preferably effector proteins of the present invention are effector proteins of type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacterium of the genus Salmonella or Shigella . More preferably effector proteins of the present invention are effector proteins of Salmonella bongori, Salmonella enterica, Salmonella subterranean, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella pullorum, Salmonella dublin, Salmonella arizonae, Salmonella choleraesius, Shigella flexneri, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella sonnei , or Shigella boydii.

Compounds of the invention preferably comprise an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain, optionally a NEL E3 ubiquitin ligase (NEL).

The NEL (Novel E3 Ligase) domain is a newly identified structure of ubiquitin E3 ligases that is distinct from HECT and RING domains commonly found in eukaryotic and prokaryotic E3 ligases. In contrast, the NEL domain has only been found in bacterial effector proteins of different pathogenic bacteria. These proteins functionally mimic eukaryotic E3 ligases but are structurally different from the eukaryotic HECT and RING domains. These proteins are furthermore characterised by a N-terminal LRR domain that is thought to determine the substrate specificity for the E3 ligase and has been suggested to be involved in autoinhibition of the ligase activity by covering the reserved catalytic Cys residue (Hicks and Galan 2010). Further characteristics of NELs are known to the skilled person.

Preferably compounds of the invention comprise an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain as marked in Example 7 and FIGS. 14 to 22 . Alternatively compounds of the invention comprise an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 26, or SEQ ID NO: 27.

In some embodiments compound(s) of the invention comprising a E3 ubiquitin ligase domain as described herein above may additionally comprise at least one leucine-rich repeat. The term “at least one leucine-rich repeat” relates to a leucine rich repeat as present in a polypeptide of a compound of the invention as described herein, as can be determined according to methods known in the art. Such leucine-rich repeats are described in Evdokimov et al. ( J. Mol. Biol. 312: 807-821 (2001)). The leucine-rich repeat may be in any orientation or order with respect to a second or further leucine-rich repeat and/or with respect to an E3 ligase domain of a compound of the invention and/or with respect to other structural elements in the polypeptides of the invention. The leucine-rich repeat may be N-terminally located or C-terminally located or may be localized at any other suitable position within the polypeptide or molecule. Preferably the leucine-rich repeat is N-terminally located.

Preferably, such compound(s) of the invention has/have the capability of modulate cellular pathway of the innate immune system of eukaryotic cells in a subject. Optionally said compound(s) of the invention has/have the capability of autopenetrating the cell membrane and integrating into the cell cytosol without the requirement of additional factors. Both can be tested in accordance with an assay as described herein.

The leucine-rich repeat (LRR) motif is commonly found in eukaryotic proteins and is thought to be involved in protein-protein interaction. The LPX repeat is a subtype of the LRR motif that has exclusively been found in T3SS-secreted effector proteins of Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, Edwardsiella, Rhizobium , and Bradyrhizobium species. Most of the LRRs of SspH1 correspond exactly to the LPX structure (LTSLPxLPxxLxxLxaxxNx; SEQ ID NO:552). The LPX domain has been suggested to determine the specificity for binding of the LPX proteins to its ligand which may account for the multiple copies of these genes that have been identified in Salmonella, Shigella and Yersinia spec (Miao et al. (1999); Haraga et al. (2003). Further characteristics of LRRs and LPX repeats are known to the skilled person.

Compounds of the invention preferably comprise at least one leucine-rich repeat (LRR), i.e. one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen LRRs. Optionally compounds of the invention belong to the LPX-family, a subtype of the LRR superfamily of protein binding domains (Symmons et al. 1997) of bacterial effector proteins that share the presence of an LRR motif as well as an N-terminal alpha-helical structure. Preferably compounds of the invention comprise at least one leucine-rich repeat, that either corresponds to a “LRR stretch” as marked in Example 7 and FIGS. 14 to 22 (marked in light grey;non-edged) or a segment of a “LRR stretch” as marked in Example 7 and FIGS. 14 to 22 (marked in light grey; non-edged). An “LRR stretch” as marked in Example 7 and FIGS. 14 to 22 corresponds to a predicted LRR domain. Alternatively compounds of the invention comprise at least one leucine-rich repeat that is comprised in an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 35, or SEQ ID NO: 36.

Preferably compounds of the invention comprise at least one leucine-rich repeat that corresponds to at least one of the reference sequences LxxLPxxLPxxLxxLxaxxNx (SEQ ID NO:553), LTSLPxLPxxLxxLxaxxNx (SEQ ID NO:552) or Lx 6 Lx 2 I/LPx 3 P (SEQ ID NO:554) (Dean P.FEMS Microbiol Rev. 2011 November; 35(6):1100-25. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2011.00271.x. Epub 2011 May 18. Review).

The effector protein SspH1 of the present invention, or SspH1 variants, SspH1 fragments or immunomodulatory domains of SspH1 preferably comprise at least one leucine-rich repeats that correspond to at least one of the reference sequences LxxLPxxLPxxLxxLxaxxNx, LTSLPxLPxxLxxLxaxxNx or Lx 6 Lx 2 I/LPx 3 P.

Compounds of the invention preferably comprise at least one of the leucine-rich repeats indicated in Example 14. Preferably compounds of the invention comprise at least one leucine-rich repeat selected from one of the groups of LRRs denoted in Example 14 as group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4, group 5, group 6, group 7, group 8, and group 9. Preferably said leucine-rich are orientated within a compound of the invention in a way that a leucine-rich repeat with a lower identification number is located n-terminally to a leucine-rich repeat with a higher identification number, e.g. N-terminus→LRR1→LRR2→LRR3→C-terminus.

Preferably the E3 ubiquitin ligase domain of a compound of the invention is closer to the C-terminus of the compound of the invention than to its N-terminus. Furthermore it is preferred that leucine-rich repeat(s) of a compound of the invention is/are closer to the N-terminus of the compound of the invention than to its C-terminus. More preferably leucine-rich repeat(s) of a compound of the invention are mainly located within the N-terminal half of the compound of the invention. Furthermore the E3 ubiquitin ligase domain of compounds of the invention is preferably located C-terminal in compared to leucine-rich repeat(s) of the compound.

Compound(s) of the invention are preferably cell-penetrating proteins (CPPs). That means that the compound(s) of the invention are able to cross eukaryotic cell membranes on its/their own. In other words compound(s) of the invention cross eukaryotic cell membranes autonomously. Preferably compound(s) of the invention translocate into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS or any other auxiliary agent which can cause the penetration of a protein, e.g a compound of the invention, into a eukaryotic cell. “Auxiliary agent” refers to any molecule that is able to deliver a cargo molecule into a eukaryotic cell. Within the present invention auxiliary agents include but are not limited to non-bacterial cell-penetrating peptides, YopM, YopM fragment and YopM variants, and cell-penetrating nanoparticles. Within the present invention auxiliary agent also refers to functional bacterial secretion systems, preferably to functional T3SS. Hence compounds of the invention are preferably able to penetrate into eukaryotic cells in an isolated form and in the absence of T3SS-containing bacteria. Preferably compounds of the invention translocate into the eukaryotic cytosol, optionally also into the eukaryotic nucleus. Moreover cell-penetrating compounds of the invention are preferably able to facilitate cellular uptake of a molecular cargo.

“Isolated” means that the compound(s) of the invention is/are separated out of its/their natural environment, preferably separated from T3SS-containing bacteria which naturally comprise the compound of the invention or the effector protein the compound of the invention is derived from. Compound(s) of the invention may be produced by recombinant expression or chemical protein synthesis. Hence “isolated” refer to compound(s) of the invention which are separated from the genetically modified host organism used for the production of the compound(s) of the invention. However, as described below, the compound(s) of the invention may be administered as living therapeutics. In this case “isolated” does preferably not mean that compound(s) of the invention are separated from the genetically modified host organism.

The ability of compounds of the invention to autonomously penetrate into eukaryotic cells is preferably mediated by at least one protein transduction domain (PTD). The term “Protein transduction domain(s)” as used herein preferably refers to the domain(s) of a cell-penetrating protein that mediate(s) translocation of said protein across the cell membrane. (It cannot be excluded that the terms “protein transduction domain” and “cell-penetrating protein” are sometimes used herein interchangeable.) How potential PTDs can be predicted is described in the Examples of the invention. Whether predicted PTDs correspond to functional cell-penetrating entities can be tested experimentally, for instance as explained in the examples of these invention. Alternatively functional PTDs of compounds of the invention can be identified by deleting and/or mutating predicted PTDs and subsequently investigating whether the deletion- and/or mutation-construct penetrates autonomously into eukaryotic cells. “Mutating” means any amino acid substitution(s) or amino acid modification(s) that destroy the cell-penetrating ability of a PTD.

The terms “autopenetrating”, “autonomously penetrating” and “penetrate/pass/cross the membrane of eukaryotic cells without the assistance of exogenous factors, such as a T3SS” are used herein interchangeably. The terms mean that the compounds of the invention are able to cross/pass a membrane which separates two different compartments. It is preferred that the mentioned two compartments refer to the exterior and interior of a cell. The “cell membrane” is therefore preferably a plasma membrane that separates the interior of a cell from the exterior. It will be understood that the compounds of the invention preferably cross the plasma membrane from the exterior of the cell towards the interior of the cell.

The compounds of the invention may enter eukaryotic cells, without the need to interact with a receptor, i.e. the compounds of the invention may enter eukaryotic cells irrespective of a receptor.

The capability to pass the cell membrane and to enter the cytosol of a cell without the assistance of exogenous factors can be tested and determined by methods known to a person skilled in the art. The autopenetration of compound(s) of the invention into the cell membrane and its integration into the cell cytosol can be tested by a method of cell fractionation as described e.g. by Kenny B, Finlay B B. Infect Immun. 1997 July; 65(7):2528-36 and/or by the methods described in the appended examples. For example, such a method comprises the incubation of cells to be tested, e.g. HeLa cells, with compound(s) of the invention, e.g. a recombinant compound(s) of the invention, for a time period of 10 to 60 min, preferably of 20 to 40 min, more preferably of 25 to 35 min and most preferably of 30 min. The compound(s) of the invention may be present in any suitable medium known to the skilled person. For example, the protein is provided in an infection medium comprising, e.g. DMEM, FCS, L-glutamine, HEPES and methyl-α-D-mannose. Preferably, the infection medium comprises 500 ml DMEM, 10% (v/v) FCS, 1 mM L-glutamine, 10 mM HEPES and 1% (w/v) methyl-α-D-mannose. For the assay cell culture dishes comprising the cells to be tested, e.g. as a confluently grown surface layer may be incubated with the compound(s) of the invention present in an infection medium as described herein above in any suitable concentration, e.g. a concentration of 1 to 100 μg per ml, preferably of 5 to 50 μg per ml, more preferably of 10 to 30 μg per ml and most preferably of 15 to 25 μg per ml. Subsequently, the cells may be washed with any suitable buffer known to the skilled person, e.g. with D-PBS/Mg 2+ . Preferably, the washing is carried out in ice-cold buffer and repeated twice. This is optionally followed by an acid-wash with 0.2 M glycine, pH 2.0. Subsequently, the cells are permeabilised by any suitable means known to the skilled person. Preferably, the cells are suspended in a suitable sonication buffer and the suspension may then be permeabilised by sonication. Subsequently, the resulting suspension may be separated into cell fractions, for example by centrifugation, e.g. at 108.000×g for 15 min at 4° C. After the fractionation step, the supernatant comprising suspended cytoplasmic proteins may be recovered. A resulting pellet may optionally be washed with any suitable buffer known to the person skilled in the art, e.g. with a sonication buffer. The sonication buffer comprises exemplarily TrisHCl, NaCl, EDTA, EGTA, glycerol, NaVO 4 and NaF. Preferably, the sonication buffer comprises 50 mM TrisHCl pH 7.6, 150 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM EGTA, 30% glycerol, 0.4 mM NaVO 4 and 1 mM NaF Subsequently, the pellet may be resuspended in any suitable buffer known to the person skilled in the art, e.g. in a TRITON™ buffer, preferably in 1 ml of a TRITON™ buffer comprising 1% (v/v) TRITON™ in a sonication buffer as described herein above. The suspension may then be incubated in a shaker for a suitable period of time known to the skilled person, e.g. for 30 min at 4° C. at 15 U/min. Subsequently, the suspension may again be centrifuged, e.g. at 108.000×g for 15 min at 4° C. A resulting supernatant may be recovered as ‘membrane fraction’. Subsequently, the resulting fractions may be precipitated by suitable means known to the skilled person, e.g. with trichloro acetic acid (TCA). For the detection of autopenetration and integration of compound(s) of the invention, a cytoplasmic and membrane fraction obtained by the method as described herein above may be analysed with any method known to the person skilled in the art, for example by way of immunostaining. Exemplarily, the fractions may be analysed by Western-blotting as known to the person skilled in the art and derivable, e.g., from Lottspeich and Zorbas, (Bioanalytik, 1998). The detection may be performed e.g. with an antiserum against the compound(s) of the invention.

A compound of the invention is regarded to be capable of autopenetrating the cell membrane and integrating into the cell cytosol without the requirement of additional factors if a tested molecule can be detected in the cytoplasmic fraction, either associated with vesicles as outlined above or already released in the cytosol, the latter being preferred. More preferably, a compound of the invention is regarded to be capable of autopenetrating the cell membrane and integrating into the cell cytosol without the requirement of additional factors if at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, or 70%, 80%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% of the tested compound is detected in the cytoplasmic fraction, in comparison to the total amount of the compound of the invention added. Methods for quantification of the amount of protein uptake are known to the skilled artisan. It is envisaged that the compound of the invention, which is detected in the cytoplasmic fraction, is associated with vesicles as indicated above, and/or already released into the cytosol, the latter being preferred.

Alternatively, the autopenetration of compound(s) of the invention into the cell membrane and its integration into the cell cytosol can be tested by a translocation coefficient assay as known to the person skilled in the art, for example as described in Langel, Ü. (ed) ( Cell - penetrating peptides: Processes and Applications , CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. 2002,) and references therein. Briefly, a compound of the invention is linked to a suitable label, for example a dye like for example Cy3 or Cy5 or to gold particles, GFP, RFP etc. Subsequently, a defined amount of the labelled protein is incubated with target cells, for example such as described herein. Afterwards, the cells are lysed and fractionated, for example such as described herein in the context of the method of cell fractionation. A translocation coefficient K T =[protein of interest intracellular ]/[Protein of interest extracellular ] may be determined by measuring the amount of the label in the intracellular cell fractions [protein of interest intracellular ] and comparing it with the originally used amount for the incubation [protein of interest extracellular ], e.g. by determining the fluorescence of Cy3. Alternatively, ELISA methods may be used or further corresponding methods including e.g. radioactivity counting, biotinylation/cell-ELISA, fluorescence labelling/spectrophotometer/FACS, resonance energy transfer, HPLC detection, immunodetection, fluorescence correlation microscopy (FCM), cell activity by capillary electrophoresis (CACE), or MALDI-TOF MS, as known to the skilled person, for example such as described in Langel, Ü. (ed) ( Handbook of cell - penetrating peptides , CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla., 2007), and Langel, Ü. (ed) ( Cell - penetrating peptides: Processes and Applications , CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. 2002).

The test for determining whether a molecule, in particular a compound of the invention, is capable of autopenetrating the cell membrane and integrating into the cell cytosol without the requirement of additional factors is preferably a test as described herein e.g. in the Examples.

Compounds of the invention preferably comprise at least one PTD of the PTDs marked in Example 7 and FIGS. 14 to 22 and designated as “maximal protein-transduction domain” and/or at least one PTD of the PTDs indicated in Example 9 and designated as “predicted PTD sequences”. FIG. 12 illustrates the PTDs of maximal length as marked in Example 7 and FIGS. 14 to 22 . The in-silico prediction of Example 5 determined several PTDs encompassed within the maximal PTDs. These shorter PTDs corresponds to C-terminally or N-terminally truncated segments of the depicted “maximal protein-transduction domains”. Compounds of the invention preferably comprise at least one PTD of these C-terminally or N-terminally truncated segments of the “maximal protein-transduction domains”. However, since the PTDs denoted “maximal protein-transduction domains” in FIGS. 14 to 22 refer to predicted PTDs, it is possible that the effector protein comprise further functional PTDs that C- or N-terminally overlap the PTDs depicted as “maximal protein-transduction domains”. Such PTDs, which are one, two, three, four or five amino acids longer than the “maximal protein-transduction domains”, either N-terminally or C-terminally, are therefore also encompassed by the present invention.

Example 9 indicates all protein transduction domains determined in Example 5, including the PTDs of maximal length and all shorter PTDs which correspond to C-terminally or N-terminally truncated segments of said PTDs of maximal length. Compounds of the invention preferably comprise at least one PTD denoted herein as “maximal protein-transduction domain” and/or at least one PTD described herein as “C-terminally or N-terminally truncated segments of a “maximal protein-transduction domain” and/or at least at least one PTD of the PTDs indicated in Example 9 and designated as “predicted PTD sequences”.

Compounds of the invention preferably comprise at least one amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 37, SEQ ID NO: 38, SEQ ID NO: 39, SEQ ID NO: 40, SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 44, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, SEQ ID NO: 49, SEQ ID NO: 50, SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 57, SEQ ID NO: 58, SEQ ID NO: 59, SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65 or SEQ ID NO: 550, and/or at least one amino acid sequence that corresponds to a C-terminally or N-terminally truncated fragment of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 37, SEQ ID NO: 38, SEQ ID NO: 39, SEQ ID NO: 40, SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 44, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, SEQ ID NO: 49, SEQ ID NO: 50, SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 57, SEQ ID NO: 58, SEQ ID NO: 59, SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65 or SEQ ID NO: 550.

Other Compounds of the invention preferably comprise at least one amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting SEQ ID NOs: 66 to 529.

“Truncated fragment” as used above refers to the amino acid sequences that are denoted in Example 9 as “Predicted PTD sequences”.

In a second embodiment the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition, comprising an isolated variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain of an effector protein effector protein of a type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacterium of the genus Salmonella or Shigella , wherein said effector protein is characterized in that it

a) is recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized, b) comprises an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain, c) optionally comprises at least one leucine-rich repeat, and d) is a cell-penetrating protein, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS.

The term “effector protein”, as used herein, includes fragments of the effector proteins of the invention. A “fragment” of an effector protein of the invention is characterized as follows.

The term “fragment” relates to a sub-portion of the “effector protein” polypeptides according to the present invention. In particular, the term “fragment” refers to a short amino acid sequence contained in an effector protein according to the invention as described herein. Preferably “fragment” refers to a polypeptide that is characterized in that it

a) is recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized, b) comprises an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain, c) optionally comprises at least one leucine-rich repeat, and d) is a cell-penetrating protein, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS.

Furthermore, a “fragment” of an effector protein of the invention may correspond to a immunomodulatory domain of a effector protein of the invention. Likewise, a “fragment” of an effector protein of the invention may correspond to a protein transduction domain of an effector protein of the invention.

Protein fragments may be “free-standing”, i.e. separated out of their natural environment (which is the effector protein, the fragment is derived from), or they may be attached to a polypeptide or comprised within a polypeptide of which the fragment forms a part or region, for example as a single continuous region. “Attached to” includes that the fragment and the polypeptide are expressed/expressable on/from a single nucleic acid as a single continuous region or that both entities are linked/coupled otherwise (for example by way of chemical linkage like biotin/streptavidin etc.). Methods to “attach” two entities, in particular two proteins, are well-known to the skilled person. It is preferred that the polypeptide, to which the fragment of the invention is “attached to” or “comprised within”, is heterologous to said fragment or the effector protein, the fragment is derived from respectively, i.e. it is preferably but not exclusively not derived from bacteria of the genus Salmonella or Shigella . Further characteristics of fragments of the invention are described below.

Polynucleotides encoding fragments of the invention are also contemplated.

The term “effector protein”, as used herein, includes variants of the effector proteins of the invention. A “variant” of an effector protein of the invention is characterized as follows.

In the context of the present invention a “variant” encompasses compounds of the, which comprise, or alternatively consist of, an amino acid sequence which is at least 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to the polypeptide sequence or an effector protein of the invention, preferably SlrP, SspH1, SspH2, IpaH1.4, IpaH2.5, IpaH3, IpaH4.5, IpaH7.8, or IpaH9.8, more preferably to the SlrP, SspH1, SspH2, IpaH1.4, IpaH2.5, IpaH3, IpaH4.5, IpaH7.8, or IpaH9.8 polypeptide identified as SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, or SEQ ID NO: 9 and/or polypeptide fragments of any effector protein of the invention. Moreover, polynucleotides encoding these variants are also contemplated. Preferably “variant” refers to a polypeptide that is characterized in that it

a) is recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized, b) comprises an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain, c) optionally comprises at least one leucine-rich repeat, and d) is a cell-penetrating protein, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS.

Preferably “variants” of the invention are generated by deleting, inserting, inversing, repeating, modifying or substituting amino acids of effector proteins of the invention.

Further characteristics of fragments of the invention are described below.

The term “effector protein”, as used herein, includes fragments of the effector proteins of the invention, such as the immunomodulatory domain of an effector protein of the invention. The term “immunomodulatory domain” or “immunomodulatory domain of the invention” refers to a domain of an effector protein of the invention that mediates modulation of pathway(s) of the innate immune system of eukaryotic cells. Preferably immunomodulatory domains of the invention modulates cytokines and/or cytokine receptors and/or genes which respond to cytokines of eukaryotic cells after said immunomodulatory domains have autonomously penetrated into said eukaryotic cells. More preferably immunomodulatory domains of the invention downregulate cytokines and/or cytokine receptors and/or genes which respond to cytokines of eukaryotic cells after said immunomodulatory domains have autonomously penetrated into said eukaryotic cells.

Preferably immunomodulatory domains of the invention comprise an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain, preferably a Novel E3 ubiquitin (NEL) ligase domain. Optionally immunomodulatory domains comprise at least one leucine-rich repeat. Preferably immunomodulatory domains of the invention comprise a Novel E3 ubiquitin ligase domain and at least one leucine-rich repeat (LRR). Preferably an “immunomodulatory domain” polypeptide of the invention comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of NELs and LRRs.

Preferably an immunomodulatory domain of the invention is characterized in that it

a) is recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized, b) comprises an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain, c) optionally comprises at least one leucine-rich repeat, and d) is a cell-penetrating protein, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS.

An effector protein, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain according to present invention is preferably a cell-penetrating protein, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS.

Hence pharmaceutical compositions of the invention preferably comprise an effector protein, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain of the present invention that is preferably a cell-penetrating protein, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS.

An effector protein, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain according to present invention preferably comprises an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain and optionally at least one leucine-rich domain.

Hence pharmaceutical compositions of the invention preferably comprise an effector protein, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain that comprises an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain and optionally at least one leucine-rich domain.

An effector protein, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain according to present invention preferably comprises an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain that is classified as Novel E3 Ligase.

Hence pharmaceutical compositions of the invention preferably comprise an effector protein, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain of the present invention that preferably comprises a Novel E3 ubiquitin ligase domain.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention preferably comprise an effector protein, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain of the invention, which comprises a E3 ubiquitin ligase domain that is closer to the C-terminus of effector protein, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain than to its N-terminus.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention preferably comprise an effector protein, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain of the invention which comprises at least one leucine-rich repeat of the LPX-subtype. Preferably said leucine-rich repeat(s) is/are closer to the N-terminus of the effector protein, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain of the invention than to its C-terminus. More preferably said leucine-rich repeat(s) is/are mainly located within the N-terminal half of the compound of the invention.

Effector proteins according to present invention are preferably T3SS effector proteins of the LPX-subtype. Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention preferably comprise effector proteins according to the invention that belong to effector proteins of the LPX-subtype.

Effector proteins according to the present invention are preferably is SspH1, SspH2, SlrP, IpaH1.4, IpaH2.5, IpaH3, IpaH4.5, IpaH7.8, and IpaH9.8. Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention preferably comprise SspH1, SspH2, SlrP, IpaH1.4, IpaH2.5, IpaH3, IpaH4.5, IpaH7.8, and IpaH9.8.

Preferably an effector protein according to present invention has an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, or SEQ ID NO: 9. Hence pharmaceutical compositions of the invention preferably comprise an effector protein that has an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, or SEQ ID NO: 9. Moreover pharmaceutical compositions of the invention preferably comprise an effector protein that is encoded by a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17, or SEQ ID NO: 18.

In the context of the present invention the terms “fragment”, “variant” or “immunomodulatory domain” includes that the fragment, variant or immunomodulatory domain is biologically active. The term “biologically active” means that the fragment, variant or immunomodulatory domain has biological activities of the effector protein of the invention from which it is derived. Preferably a fragment, variant or immunomodulatory domain of the invention has a biological activity of SspH1, SspH2, SlrP, IpaH1.4, IpaH2.5, IpaH3, IpaH4.5, IpaH7.8, and IpaH9.8.

Preferably “biologically active” means that the fragment, variant or immunomodulatory domain of the invention is capability of autopenetrating the cell membrane and integrating into the cell cytosol without the requirement of additional factors and is able to modulates cytokines and/or cytokine receptors and/or genes which respond to cytokines.

An effector protein, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain according to present invention preferably comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 26, or SEQ ID NO: 27.

An effector protein, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain according to present invention preferably comprises at least one Leucine-rich repeat, preferably at least one Leucine-rich repeat that is comprised in an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 35, or SEQ ID NO: 36.

An effector protein, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain according to present invention preferably comprises at least one amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 37, SEQ ID NO: 38, SEQ ID NO: 39, SEQ ID NO: 40, SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 44, SEQ ID NO: 45, SEQ ID NO: 46, SEQ ID NO: 47, SEQ ID NO: 48, SEQ ID NO: 49, SEQ ID NO: 50, SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 55, SEQ ID NO: 56, SEQ ID NO: 57, SEQ ID NO: 58, SEQ ID NO: 59, SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 65, or SEQ ID NO: 550, or are C-terminally or N-terminally truncated fragment thereof.

Alternatively, an effector protein, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain according to present invention preferably comprises at least one amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 66 to 529.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention preferably comprise an effector protein, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain as defined above.

Optionally effector proteins, variants, fragments, or immunomodulatory domains according to present invention are linked to a cell-specific targeting agent.

The compounds of the invention may enter eukaryotic cells without the need to interact with a receptor. Thus, in a further embodiment, the compound(s) of the invention is/are additionally linked to a specific, for example a cell-specific, targeting agent. Such a linkage may be any linkage as described herein above, preferably a peptide linkage.

The term “specific targeting agent” or “cell-specific targeting agent” means a molecule, which allows a (cell)specific interaction with structures on the surface of a cell and thereby facilitates the recognition of different cell types or tissue types in the animal body, preferably in the human body. Molecules which allow such (cell-) specific interaction may, for example, be ligands which specifically interact with receptors or receptor fragments which are located on the surface of a cell (e.g. tumor cells) and which are differentially expressed in specific cell types or tissue types. The term includes any suitable CD antigen as known to the person skilled in the art, for example from www.pathologyoutlines.com, more preferably to CD1d, which may be used for the targeting of, e.g., dendritic cells, intestinal epithelial cells, B cell subset, NK T cell subset; CD 11a,b,c,d; CD14 and CD16/18, which may be used for the targeting of, e.g., macrophages; CD23, which may be used for the targeting of e.g., activated mature B cells expressing IgM or IgD (particularly mantle cells), activated monocytes/macrophages, T cell subsets, platelets, eosinophils, Langerhans cells, follicular dendritic cells, or intestinal epithelium; CD54 (also known as ICAM-1), which may be used for the targeting of, e.g., B and T cells and B cell precursors, monocytes, osteoclasts, endothelial cells, and various epithelial cells; CD57, which may be used for the targeting of, e.g., cells of the NK subset, T cell subset, neuroectodermal tissue, retina, brain, prostate, renal proximal tubules;

CD64 (also called Fc gamma RI), which may be used for the targeting of antigen presenting cells including macrophages/monocytes, activated granulocytes, dendritic cells or early myeloid cells; CD91 (also known as Low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1); also called alpha-2-macroglobulin receptor), which may be used for the targeting of fibroblasts, dendritic cells, macrophages, liver, brain or lung tissue as well as CD-20, CD-45. Furthermore, the term relates to anti-CD antibodies, to molecular danger signals, TLRs, bacterial toxins, e.g. ‘trapo’ for nerve cells as described in WO 2006/114308 or DEC-205, which is typically present on dendritic cells. In addition, the term relates to a vascular-homing peptide, which may be specific for certain organs or tissues, like e.g. brain, kidney, lung, skin, or heart. More preferably, the term relates to such peptides as mentioned in Arap, W. et al. Proc. Nati Acad Sci. U.S.A., 99:1527-1531 (2002); Rajotte, D. et al., J. Clin Invest., 102:430-437 (1998); Pasqualini, R., and Ruoslahti, E. (2002) Nat. Rev . Cancer 2:83; Rajotte, D. and Ruoshlati, E., J. Biol. Chem. 274:11593-11598 (1999); Essler, M., and Ruoshlati, E., Proc. Nati Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 99:2252-2257 (2002). Tumour homing peptide are also envisaged. The term “tumour homing peptide” means a protein, which comprises an RGD- and/or a NGR motif. Typically, proteins with a RGD motif bind to αvβ3 and αvβ5 integrins, which in turn are considered to be specific markers for angiogenic blood vessels (Eliceiri, B. P. and Cheresh, D. A., Cancer J. 6:S245-S249 (2000)). Furthermore, proteins with an NGR-Motif may bind to an aminopeptidase N, which in turn is specific for angiogenic, endothelia cells (Pasqualini, R. et al., Cancer Res. 60:722-727 (2000)). In a preferred embodiment, a tumour homing peptide comprising an RGD- and/or a NGR motif may be used for the general targeting of angiogenic cells independently of the tumour type involved, as the person skilled in the art would know, e.g. from Arap, W. et al., Science, 279:377-380 (1998); Pasqualini, R. et al., Nat. Biotech. 15:542-546 (1997)).

In a further preferred embodiment compound of the invention may be fused in frame with the carboxyl terminus of the heavy chain of the αDEC-205 as described in Boscardin et al. ( J. Exp. Med., 203: 599-606 (2006)).

In a further embodiment the term “cell-specific targeting agent” includes agents which bind to (a) cell-marker which allow(s) the, preferably specific, targeting of osteoclasts. A particularly preferred cell-marker for osteoclasts is the calcitonin-receptor, alpha-V-beta3-integrine and/or vitronectine (Marta Monjo, Sébastien F. Lamolle, S. Petter Lyngstadaas, H. Jacob Rønold and Jan Eirik Ellingsen 2008 Biomaterials 29(28): 3771-3780; Susanne Granholm, Pernilla Lundberg, and Ulf H. J. Cell. Biochem. 104(3): 920-933; Davies J, Warwick J, Totty N, Philp R, Helfrich M, and Horton M 1989 J. Cell Biol. 109: 1817-1826; Clove J, Dodds R A, and Gowen M 1992. J. Cell Sci. 103: 267-271). Agents which may bind to this cell-marker are described herein and include for example antibodies etc.

In another embodiment the term “cell-specific targeting agent” relates to a virus, preferably an attenuated virus, which is linked to a compound of the invention. Such a combination may convey a cell or tissue tropism depending on the host cell spectrum of the virus used. The term “cell-specific targeting agent” also includes retroviridae, adenoviridae etc.

The term “cell-specific targeting agent” also includes an “antibody and functional fragments thereof” and refers to a monoclonal or a polyclonal antibody (see Harlow and Lane, “ Antibodies, A Laboratory Manual ”, CSH Press, Cold Spring Harbor, USA, 1988) or a derivative of said antibody which retains or essentially retains its binding specificity. Preferred derivatives of such antibodies are chimeric antibodies comprising, for example, a mouse or rat variable region and a human constant region. The term “functional fragment” as used herein refers to fragments of the antibodies as specified herein which retain or essentially retain the binding specificity of the antibodies like, separated light and heavy chains, Fab, Fab/c, Fv, Fab′, F(ab′)2. The term “antibody” also comprises bifunctional (bispecific) antibodies and antibody constructs, like single-chain Fvs (scFv) or antibody-fusion proteins. The term “scFv fragment” (single-chain Fv fragment) is well understood in the art and preferred due to its small size and the possibility to produce such fragments recombinantly. Said antibody or antibody binding portion is a human antibody or a humanized antibody. The term “humanized antibody” means, in accordance with the present invention, an antibody of non-human origin, where at least one complementarity determining region (CDR) in the variable regions such as the CDR3 and preferably all 6 CDRs have been replaced by CDRs of an antibody of human origin having a desired specificity. Optionally, the non-human constant region(s) of the antibody has/have been replaced by (a) constant region(s) of a human antibody. Methods for the production of humanized antibodies are described in, e.g., EP-A1 0 239 400 and WO90/07861.

Optionally effector proteins, variants, fragments, or immunomodulatory domains according to present invention are linked to a linked to a cargo molecule.

The term “linked to a cargo molecule” means that the cargo molecule may be connected by any means known to the person skilled in the art to the compounds of the invention (for example covalently, non-covalently etc.). It is envisaged that structures on the surface of the cargo molecule like functional or reactive chemical groups are used to establish a linkage or binding between a compound of the invention and a cargo molecule. “Linked to” also includes that the compounds of the invention and the cargo molecules are expressed/expressable on/from a single nucleic acid as a single continuous region. Fusion proteins consisting of a proteinaceous cargo (polypeptides, antibodies etc.) and the compound(s) of the invention are likewise contemplated. Nucleic acids encoding these fusion proteins, vectors comprising these nucleic acids and pharmaceutical compositions comprising these vectors or nucleic acids are likewise contemplated.

The compounds of the present invention may be linked to a cargo by any method known to the person skilled in the art, e.g. by chemical cross-linking, an avidin bridge, a glutation-S-transferase bridge, a linkage comprising at least one, at least two or at least three disulfide bonds or at least one peptide bond or at least two peptide bonds.

Various functional groups, such as hydroxyl, amino or halogen groups present on the cargo may be used as a handle to attach a suitable complexing group. For example, a hydroxyl group may be modified to include an acidic phosphate group. It is also envisaged that the linkage includes a disulfide bond. The linkage may also include a streptavidin-biotin complex. It is envisaged that the delivery peptide, i.e. a compound of the invention is biotinylated and the cargo molecule is avidin labeled. Thus, “linked to” also includes a non-covalent linkage/association of cargo molecules with the compounds of the invention.

The linkage between the delivery peptide and the cargo may also be achieved by a peptide bond. Examples including those peptide bonds or linkers are described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,627.

In a preferred embodiment, the cargo is linked via a peptide bond in the form of a protein-protein fusion. In such a protein-protein fusion, the cargo may be separated from the compounds of the invention by an amino acid linker (spacer). Such a linker is preferably of the size of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 to 50 amino acids or of any other suitable size known to the person skilled in the art. The linker may consist of any suitable amino acid known to the person skilled in the art. Preferably, a linker comprising the amino acid glycine is used. The linker is not restricted to amino acids but may also comprise other entities/molecules, for example such as poly(‘hydroxy’methylene) groups.

In a further preferred embodiment, the protein-protein fusion may be in the form of a transcriptional fusion. Suitable transcriptional fusions, as well as suitable methods to generate corresponding constructs, are known to the person skilled in the art.

Furthermore, the compounds of the invention may be linked to a cargo by a cleavable linker.

It is envisaged that the cargo is modified using a number of methods known in the art, either directly, e.g. with a carbodiimide, or via at least one linking moiety. In particular, carbamate, ester, thioether, disulfide, and hydrazone linkages may be formed. Ester and disulfide linkages are envisaged, if the linkage is to be readily degraded in the cytosol, after transport of the cargo across the cell membrane.

In a further embodiment a compound of the invention as described herein above is linked to a cargo via a linkage at the C-terminus or the N-terminus of the compounds of the invention. Preferably, such a linkage at the C-terminus or the N-terminus is a peptide bond, more preferably said linkage is a protein-protein fusion including, for instance, the presence of a spacer or linker of the size of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 to 50 amino acids or of any other suitable size known to the person skilled in the art. The linker may consist of any suitable amino acid known to the person skilled in the art. Preferably, a linker comprising the amino acid glycine is used.

In a further embodiment, the compound of the invention is biotinylated and the cargo molecule is avidin labeled or vice versa.

The term “cargo” or “cargo molecule”, as used herein, refers to any entity (e.g. a small molecule, macromolecule or macromolecular complex), which may be delivered/transferred/is transferable across the membrane of a cell or into the cytosol of a target cell. It is envisaged that a “cargo” or “cargo molecule” is transferable/transferred or delivered across the membrane of a cell or into the cytosol of a target cell, if it is detected/detectable in the cytoplasmic fraction—either associated with vesicles and/or already released into the cytosol, the latter being preferred. The cytoplasmic fraction denotes the interior of a cell.

It is preferred but not exclusive that the “cargo” is heterologous to a compound of the invention. By the term “heterologous” as used herein is meant that it does not come from, is not normally/naturally produced by and/or required for viability of Salmonella or Shigella . It is also preferred that the cargo is not a a component of a type III secretion system.

It is particularly preferred that the cargo exerts a beneficial effect in a medical context, i.e. the cargo displays therapeutical and/or diagnostic activity/capabilities, following delivery into the cells, ex vivo and/or in vivo. “Therapeutic activity” includes treatment, amelioration and/or prophylaxis of a disease. “Diagnostic activity” includes visualizing, detecting, distinguishing and/or identifying a pathological/medical condition and attributing the deviation to a clinical picture.

Preferably, the term “cargo” includes, but is in no way limited to, a nucleic acid, a polypeptide, an antibody or a functional fragment thereof, an organic molecule, a small organic molecule, a metal, a nanoparticle, a virus, a modified virus, a viral vector, and/or a plasmid.

This invention is generally applicable for therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic intracellular delivery of small molecules and of macromolecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and/or polysaccharides, that are not inherently capable of entering target cells at a useful rate. It should be appreciated, however, that alternate embodiments of this invention are not limited to clinical applications. This invention may be advantageously applied in medical and biological research. In research applications of this invention, the cargo may be e. g. a drug or a reporter molecule.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention preferably comprise an effector protein, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain as defined above.

Preferably effector proteins, variants, fragments, or immunomodulatory domains according to present invention are functional ubiquitin ligases. That means that an effector protein, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain of the invention is able to ubiquitinate itself and/or eukaryotic proteins after it has autonomously penetrated into a eukaryotic cell in an isolated form and in the absence a T3SS-containing bacterium of the genus Salmonella or Shigella . “Ubiquitinate” as used herein includes monoubiquitination, oligoubiquitination and polyubiquitination. Preferably effector proteins, variants, fragments, or immunomodulatory domains according to present invention polyubiquitinate themself and/or eukaryotic proteins. Said eukaryotic proteins that are ubiquitinylated are preferably involved in pathways of the innate immune system. More preferably said eukaryotic proteins are involved in the regulation or modulation of cytokines and/or cytokine receptors and/or genes which respond to cytokines of eukaryotic. Even more preferred said eukaryotic proteins are involved in the regulation of the expression of cytokines and/or cytokine receptors. In one preferred embodiment the compound of the invention is SspH1, or a variant, fragment or immunomodulatory domain thereof, wherein SspH1, or a variant, fragment or immunomodulatory domain thereof ubiquitinate itself and mammalian PKN1.

Ubiquitin has seven lysine residues and an N-terminus that may serve as points of ubiquitination, they are K6, K11, K27, K29, K33, K48 and K63.

Effector proteins, variants, fragments, or immunomodulatory domains according to present invention are preferably able to ubiquitinate by forming K63-linked-ubiquitin-chains and/or K48-linked-ubiquitin chains.

An effector proteins, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain according to present invention preferably modulates pathway(s) of the innate immune system of eukaryotic cells after said effector proteins, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain has autonomously penetrated into said eukaryotic cells.

Preferably an effector proteins, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain according to present invention modulates cytokines and/or cytokine receptors and/or genes which respond to cytokines of a eukaryotic cell after said effector proteins, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain has autonomously penetrated into said eukaryotic cell.

Optionally an effector proteins, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain according to present invention downregulates the expression of cytokines and/or cytokine receptors of a eukaryotic cell after it has autonomously penetrated into said eukaryotic cell.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention preferably comprise an effector protein, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain as defined above.

“Modulate” includes inducing, enhancing, or suppressing cellular pathway of the innate immune system.

As described above, the present inventors surprisingly found that recombinant SspH1, which so far has not been characterized as a potential immunosuppressive therapeutic, is, once it has integrated into the cell cytosol, capable of effectively downregulating cytokines.

Cytokines are an essential class of mediators in physiology and pathology. In the context of inflammation and disease cytokines and particularly pro-inflammatory cytokines play a key role in the acceleration and regulation of inflammatory reactions either by direct interactions or by their ability to induce the synthesis of cellular adhesion molecules or of other cytokines in various cell types involved in the immunological defense network. Many cytokines have beneficial as well as deleterious effects for the organism. Thus, a delicate balance between different cytokine groups, in particular between pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory and regulatory cytokines has to be maintained and is vital for health. If this balance is disturbed, diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, vascular disease or autoimmunity may develop. The unexpected downregulation of cytokines, in particular of pro-inflammatory cytokines, by recombinant SspH1 that has autonomously penetrated the eukaryotic cell membrane and entered the cytosol, as shown by the present inventors and illustrated in the Examples, converts SspH1 and its derivatives into efficient medical tools for the regulation of inflammatory reactions, for immunomodulation or especially for immunosuppression.

The term “cytokines” relates to soluble proteins and peptides that act as humoral regulators, which, either under normal or pathological conditions, modulate the functional activities of individual cells and tissues and also mediate interactions between cells directly and regulate processes taking place in the extracellular environment. The term encompasses type 1 cytokines produced by Th1 T-helper, type 2 cytokines produced by Th2 T-helper cells, interleukins, chemokines or interferons, e.g. IL-1ra (antagonist), CNTF, LIF, OSM, Epo, G-CSF, GH, PRL, IP10, I309, IFN-alpha, IFN-beta, IFN-gamma, IL2, IL3, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL7, IL8, IL9, IL10, IL11, 1L12 (p35+p40), 1L13, 1L14, IL15, 1L16, 1L17 A-F, 1L18, 1L19, IL20, IL21, IL22, IL23 (p19+p40), IL24, IL25, IL26, IL27 (p28−EBI3), IL28A, IL28B, IL29, IL30, IL31, IL32, IL33, IL35 (p35−EBI3), LT-alpha, LT-beta, LIGHT, TWEAK, APRIL, BAFF, TL1A, GITRL, OX40L, CD40L, FASL, CD27L, CD30L, 4-1BBL, TRAIL, RANK, GM-CSF, M-CSF, SCF, IL1-alpha, IL1-beta, aFGF, bFGF, int-2, KGF, EGF, TGF-alpha, TGF-beta, TNF-alpha, TNF-beta, betacellulin, SCDGF, amphiregulin or HB-EGF, as is known to the person skilled in the art and can be derived, for example, from Tato, C. M. & Cua, D. J. ( Cell 132: 900; Cell 132: 500, Cell 132: 324, (2008)) or from Cytokines & Cells Online Pathfinder Encyclopaedia www.copewith-cytokines.de. “Pro-inflammatory cytokines” are also contemplated. The term “pro-inflammatory cytokine” means an immunoregulatory cytokines that favours inflammation. Typically, pro-inflammatory cytokines comprise IL-1-alpha, IL-1-beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha. These pro-inflammatory cytokines are largely responsible for early responses. Other pro-inflammatory mediators include LIF, IFN-gamma, IFN-alpha, OSM, CNTF, TGF-beta, GM-CSF, TWEAK, IL-11, IL-12, IL-15, IL-17, IL-18, IL-19, IL-20, IL-8, IL-16, IL-22, IL-23, IL-31, and IL-32 (Tato, C. M. & Cua, D. J. Cell 132:900; Cell 132:500, Cell 132, 324 (2008)). These pro-inflammatory cytokines may act as endogenous pyrogens (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha), up-regulate the synthesis of secondary mediators and pro-inflammatory cytokines by both macrophages and mesenchymal cells (including fibroblasts, epithelial and endothelial cells), stimulate the production of acute phase proteins, or attract inflammatory cells. Preferably, the term “pro-inflammatory cytokine” relates to TNF-alpha, IL-15, IFN-gamma, IFN-alpha, IL-1-beta, IL-8, IL-16 and IL-22.

The term “downregulates” means that the mRNA levels of an expressed gene, e.g. of a cytokine gene, and/or the protein levels expressed by such mRNAs is reduced in the presence of compound(s) of the invention. The downregulation of mRNA and/or protein expressed by that mRNA in the context of the compounds of the invention can be tested and determined by methods known to a person skilled in the art or by methods exemplified in the appended examples. “Downregulating” encompasses that the expression (either on mRNA or protein level) is reduced by at least 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 99% in comparison to a control, in which the incubation has been carried out without compound(s) of the invention, e.g. solely in the presence of medium. It can be tested by a method of quantitive RNA analysis, as described in Myers, T. W. and Gelfand, D. H., Biochem. 30:7661-7667 (1991); Krug, M. S. and Berger, S. L., Methods Enzymol. 152:316-325 (1987); Bustin, S. A., J. Mol. Endocrinol. 29:169-193 (2000); Bustin, S. A., J. Mol. Endocrinol. 25:23-39 (2002); Ståhlberg, A. et al., Clin. Chem. 50:509-515 (2004)).

A compound of the invention is preferably capable of downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines.

More preferably, it is capable of downregulating any one of pro-inflammatory cytokines described above, preferably TNF-alpha, IL-15, IFN-alpha, IL-1-beta, IL-8, IL-16 and/or IL-22. The term “downregulating” has been described herein above. The downregulation may be tested in a RNA quantification assay or a test known to the person skilled in the art, for example a test as described in the Examples.

The term “cytokine receptor” refers to any receptor molecule, which is able to bind a cytokine as a ligand. In the context of the present invention, the term preferably relates to any receptor of the cytokines mentioned herein above, more preferably of the pro-inflammatory cytokines described herein above. The term “downregulates” has been described herein above. The downregulation may be tested in a RNA quantification assay or test known to the person skilled in the art and/or by a method as described in the Examples.

In a further preferred embodiment the compounds of the invention are capable of downregulating cytokines, cytokine receptors and/or genes which respond to cytokines i.e. the compounds of the invention comprise in this embodiment the immunomodulatory domain(s) of compounds of the invention, particularly E3 ligase domain(s) and optionally also at least one leucine-rich repeat (LRR), i.e. one, two, three, four, five, six, seven or eight LRRs. The addition of further LRRs is also envisaged. It is likewise envisaged that these compounds of the invention are linked to/attached to a cargo molecule.

The term “genes which respond to cytokines” refers to any gene, which is regulated, i.e. can be activated or inactivated, or whose transcription can be initiated or stopped by any of the cytokines mentioned herein above. More preferably, it relates to genes that are regulated by TNF-alpha or IFN. Most preferably, the term relates to genes that are induced by TNF-alpha or induced by IFN. The term “downregulates” has been described herein above. The downregulation may be tested in a RNA quantification assay or test known to the person skilled in the art.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention preferably comprise an effector protein, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain as defined above.

For modulation of cellular pathway of the innate immune system of a eukaryotic cell of a subject compounds of the invention preferably penetrate into the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell after autopenetration.

Hence an effector proteins, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain according to present invention optionally penetrates into the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell after said effector protein, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain has autonomously entered said eukaryotic cell.

Moreover pharmaceutical compositions of the invention optionally comprise an effector proteins, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain of the invention that penetrates into the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell after said effector protein, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain has autonomously entered said eukaryotic cell.

The term “penetrating the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell” or “entering the cell nucleus” means that a compound of the invention passes across the nuclear membrane of a cell. The capability of a compound of the invention to enter the cell nucleus can be tested by any suitable methods and assays known to the person skilled in the art, preferably by nuclear localization assays as described in Hällbrink M., et al., (2004) ( Biochem. Biophys . Acta 1667:222) and Nare B., et al., (1999) (Anal. Biol. 267:390).

Preferably, the capability of a compound of the invention to enter the cell nucleus is linked to the presence of a nuclear localization sequence (NLS). More preferably, a compound of the invention comprises the NLS of said compound of the invention as known to the person skilled in the art. In a preferred embodiment compound(s) of the invention used in the context of pharmaceutical compositions comprise a NLS sequence.

Preferably pharmaceutical compositions of the invention lack any auxiliary agent which can cause the penetration of said effector protein into a eukaryotic cell. “Auxiliary agent” refers to any molecule that is able to deliver a cargo molecule into a eukaryotic cell. “Auxiliary agent” does not refer to compounds of the invention. Within the present invention auxiliary agents include but are not limited to non-bacterial cell-penetrating peptides, YopM, YopM fragment and YopM variants, and cell-penetrating nanoparticles. Within the present invention auxiliary agent also refers to functional bacterial secretion systems, preferably to functional T3SS.

More preferably pharmaceutical compositions of the invention lack any auxiliary agent selected from the group consisting of T3SS-containing bacterium, bacterium of the genus Salmonella or Shigella , and cell-penetrating molecule, including cell-penetrating protein that is different from an effector protein of the invention and cell-penetrating nanoparticle.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention preferably comprise an effector protein, variant, fragment, or immunomodulatory domain as defined above.

In one embodiment pharmaceutical compositions of the invention are for use in immunomodulatory therapy of animals or humans. Immunomodulatory therapy thereby refers to the treatment of disease by inducing, enhancing, or suppressing an immune response.

In another embodiment pharmaceutical compositions of the invention are for use in immunosuppressive therapy of animals or humans.

In another embodiment pharmaceutical compositions of the invention are for use in the regulation of inflammatory reactions of the immune system, treatment of diseases caused by autoimmunity, acute inflammation or chronic inflammation, treatment of inflammatory disorders, and/or for suppressing the immune system.

In one aspect the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition as defined herein above for immunomodulation, preferably for immunomodulation of inflammatory reactions. The term “immunomodulation” means regulation of reactions of the immune system. The term “immunomodulation of inflammatory reactions” refers to the regulation of inflammatory reactions of the immune system. Such inflammatory reactions are known to the skilled person and can be derived, for example, from Schmidt-Schönbein ( Annu. Rev. Biomed. Eng. 8: 93-151 (2006)).

In a preferred embodiment the pharmaceutical composition as defined herein above is for the treatment of diseases caused by autoimmunity of the host. The term “diseases caused by autoimmunity of the host” means a disease, which is caused by an immune reaction of the host's immune system. Such diseases are known to the person skilled in the art and can be derived, for example, from www.sbi.uni-rostock.de. Preferably, the term relates to acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), Addison's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), aplastic anemia, autoimmune hepatitis, autoimmune Oophoritis, celiac disease, Crohn's disease (Morbus Crohn), diabetes mellitus type 1, gestational pemphigoid, goodpasture's syndrome, Graves' disease, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), Hashimoto's disease, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, Kawasaki's disease, lupus erythematosus, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome (OMS), optic neuritis, Ord's thyroiditis, pemphigus, pernicious anaemia, primary biliary cirrhosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Reiter's syndrome, Sjögren's syndrome, Takayasu's arteritis, temporal arteritis, Warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia and Wegener's granulomatosis.

In a further preferred embodiment the pharmaceutical composition as defined herein above is for the treatment of “inflammation”. The term “inflammation” means a biological response of tissues, e.g. vascular tissues, to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. Such a pathological condition is known to the person skilled in the art and can be derived, for example, from Schmidt-Schönbein ( Annu. Rev. Biomed. Eng. 8: 93-151 (2006)). Preferably, the term relates to acute inflammation or chronic inflammation. Furthermore, it encompasses inflammatory disorders like asthma, chronic prostatitis, glomerulonephritis, hypersensitivities, inflammatory bowel diseases, pelvic inflammatory disease, reperfusion injury, arthritis, osteoarthritis, (juvenile) chronic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, A. mutilans , septic arthritis, infectious arthritis and/or reactive arthritis, transplant rejection or vasculitis. It also encompasses allergic reactions, inflammatory myopathies, atherosclerosis, ischaemic heart disease, gastroenteritis, chronic gastritis, colitis ulcerose and psoriasis or psoriasis arthritis.

More preferably, the pharmaceutical composition is for the regulation of inflammatory reactions of the immune system, the treatment of diseases caused by autoimmunity of the host, the treatment of inflammation, chronic inflammation, gastroenteritis, chronic gastritis, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), colitis ulcerosa, psoriasis, allergic reactions, Morbus Crohn, arthritis, osteoarthritis, (juvenile) chronic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, A. mutilans , septic arthritis, infectious arthritis and/or reactive arthritis or for suppressing the immune system.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to the use of compounds of the invention for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for immunomodulation of inflammatory reactions, the regulation of inflammatory reactions of the immune system, the treatment of diseases caused by autoimmunity of the host, and/or the treatment of inflammation, chronic inflammation, gastroenteritis, chronic gastritis, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), colitis ulcerosa, psoriasis, allergic reactions, Morbus Crohn, arthritis, osteoarthritis, (juvenile) chronic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, A. mutilans , septic arthritis, infectious arthritis, and/or reactive arthritis, or for suppressing the immune system.

In another embodiment the present invention relates to a method of treatment of any of the diseases and medical conditions mentioned herein, in particular in the context of the pharmaceutical composition as defined herein, comprising administering at least one compound of the invention, including all modifications as indicated herein (e.g linked cargo; linked cell specific targeting) to a subject. Preferably, the present invention relates to a method of preventing, ameliorating and/or treating diseases which were exemplified herein elsewhere. Preferably, the subject to be treated is an animal and more preferably, the subject to be treated is a human being.

Preferably the present invention provides a method of treatment of diseases caused by autoimmunity, treatment of acute inflammation, chronic inflammation, inflammatory disorders, pathogenic inflammatory reactions of the immune system, and/or a method of suppressing the immune system in a subject, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition of the invention to said subject. The term “therapeutical amount” is described elsewhere herein.

The present invention also provides kits or pharmaceutical packages that can be used in the context of the present invention, for example in the context of administration of the pharmaceutical composition. In one embodiment, a kit/package comprises at least one compound of the invention as defined herein, in one or more containers. Optionally, the kit/package further comprises a documentation indicating the treatment regimen, use and/or employment of the kits/package components or the pharmaceutical composition.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to the use of an isolated effector protein of a type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacterium of the genus Salmonella or Shigella , wherein the effector protein is characterized in that it

a) is recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized

b) comprises an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain, preferably an Novel E3 ubiquitin ligase

c) optionally comprises at least one leucine-rich repeat;

d) is a cell-penetrating protein, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS;

or use of a variant, fragment or immunomodulatory domain of said effector protein, for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for regulating inflammatory reactions of the immune system, treating diseases caused by autoimmunity, treating acute inflammation or chronic inflammation, treating of inflammatory disorders, and/or suppressing the immune system.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to the use of an isolated effector protein of a type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacterium of the genus Salmonella or Shigella , wherein the effector protein is characterized in that it

a) is recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized

b) comprises an E3 ubiquitin ligase domain, preferably an Novel E3 ubiquitin ligase

c) optionally comprises at least one leucine-rich repeat;

d) is a cell-penetrating protein, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS;

or use of a variant, fragment of said effector protein for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for delivering at least one cargo molecule across the membrane of a eukaryotic cell, wherein the fusion construct of cargo molecule and said effector protein or variant or fragment thereof is a cell-penetrating construct, which translocates into eukaryotic cells without the requirement of a bacterial T3SS.

“Cargo molecule” is described above.

The term “delivering a cargo molecule” means that said isolated compound of the invention is capable of transporting and delivering a cargo molecule as defined herein, e.g. peptides or proteins, DNA, RNA, carbohydrates, lipids or chemically devised molecules of natural or non-natural origin without accessory factors into higher cells.

Compounds of the invention also include polypeptides which comprise non-classical amino acids including D-isomers of the common amino acids, 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, α-amino isobutyric acid, 4-aminobutyric acid, Abu, 2-amino butyric acid, γ-Abu, ε-Ahx, 6-amino hexanoic acid, Aib, 2-amino isobutyric acid, 3-amino propionic acid, ornithine, norleucine, norvaline, hydroxyproline, sarcosine, citrulline, homocitrulline, cysteic acid, t-butylglycine, t-butylalanine, phenylglycine, cyclohexylalanine, β-alanine, fluoroamino acids, designer amino acids such as β-methyl amino acids, Ca-methyl amino acids, Na-methyl amino acids, and amino acid analogs in general. Furthermore, the amino acid can be D (dextrorotary) or L (levorotary).

In the context of the present invention the term “compounds of the invention” also includes polypeptides which are differentially modified during or after translation, e. g. by glycosylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, amidation, derivatization by known protecting/blocking groups, or proteolytic cleavage etc. Any of numerous chemical modifications may be carried out by known techniques, including but not limited, to specific chemical cleavage by cyanogen bromide, trypsin, chymotrypsin, papain, V8 protease, acetylation, formylation, oxidation, reduction; or metabolic synthesis in the presence of tunicamycin; etc.

Additional post-translational modifications encompassed by the invention include, for example N-linked or O-linked carbohydrate chains, processing of N-terminal or C-terminal ends, attachment of chemical moieties to the amino acid backbone, chemical modifications of N-linked or O-linked carbohydrate chains, and addition or deletion of an N-terminal methionine residue as a result of prokaryotic host cell expression.

The present invention also relates to polypeptides of the invention (compounds of the invention). In one aspect the invention provides an isolated effector protein of a type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacterium of the genus Salmonella or Shigella or a variant, fragment or immunomodulatory domain of said effector protein, wherein the compound of the invention is artificially modified. “Artificially modified” refers to man-made modifications, such as labeling, chemical modification or derivatization as described below. By way of example, the invention relates to an isolated effector protein of a type III secretion system (T3SS)-containing bacterium of the genus Salmonella or Shigella or a variant, fragment or immunomodulatory domain of said effector protein, wherein said effector protein, variant, fragment or immunomodulatory domain is linked to a cargo molecule and/or cell-specific targeting agent.

Compounds of the invention may also be modified with a detectable label, such as an enzymatic, fluorescent, isotopic or affinity label to allow for detection and isolation of the protein, the addition of epitope tagged peptide fragments (e. g., His, FLAG, HA, GST, thioredoxin, maltose binding protein, etc.), attachment of affinity tags such as biotin and/or streptavidin, the covalent attachment of chemical moieties to the amino acid backbone, N-or C-terminal processing of the polypeptides ends (e. g., proteolytic processing), deletion of the N-terminal methionine residue, etc.

Compounds of the invention encompass chemically modified derivatives that may provide additional advantages such as increased solubility, stability, and circulating time of the polypeptide altogether increasing its half-life, or decreased immunogenicity (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,337). The chemical moieties for derivatization may be selected from water soluble polymers such as polyethylene glycol, ethylene glycol/propylene glycol copolymers, carboxymethyl cellulose, dextran, polyvinyl alcohol and the like. The polypeptides may be modified at random positions within the molecule, or at predetermined positions within the molecule and may include one, two, three or more attached chemical moieties. Preferably, a chemical derivatization is contemplated wherein the chemical is a hydrophilic polymer residue. Exemplary hydrophilic polymers, including derivatives, may be those that include polymers in which the repeating units contain one or more hydroxy groups (polyhydroxy polymers), including, for example, poly (vinyl alcohol); polymers in which the repeating units contain one or more amino groups (polyamine polymers), including, for example, peptides, polypeptides, proteins and lipoproteins, such as albumin and natural lipoproteins; polymers in which the repeating units contain one or more carboxy groups (polycarboxy polymers), including, for example, carboxymethyl cellulose, alginic acid and salts thereof, such as sodium and calcium alginate, glycosaminoglycans and salts thereof, including salts of hyaluronic acid, phosphorylated and sulfonate derivatives of carbohydrates, genetic material, such as interleukin-2 and interferon, and phosphorothioate oligomers; and polymers in which the repeating units contain one or more saccharide moieties (polysaccharide polymers), including, for example, carbohydrates.

The molecular weight of the hydrophilic polymers may vary, and is generally about 50 to about 5,000,000, with polymers having a molecular weight of about 100 to about 50,000 being preferred. The polymers may be branched or unbranched. More preferred polymers have a molecular weight of about 150 to about 10,000, with molecular weights of 200 to about 8,000 being even more preferred.

For polyethylene glycol, the preferred molecular weight is between about 1 kDa and about 100 kDa (the term “about” indicating that in preparations of polyethylene glycol, some molecules will weigh more, some less, than the stated molecular weight) for ease in handling and manufacturing. Other sizes may be used, depending on the desired therapeutic profile (e. g., the duration of sustained release desired, the effects, if any on biological activity, the ease in handling, the degree or lack of antigenicity and other known effects of the polyethylene glycol to a therapeutic protein or analog). Additional preferred polymers, which may be used to derivatize the compounds of the invention, include, for example, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), poly(vinylpyrrolidine), polyoxomers, polysorbate and poly(vinyl alcohol), with PEG polymers being particularly preferred. Preferred among the PEG polymers are PEG polymers having a molecular weight from about 100 to about 10,000. More preferably, the PEG polymers have a molecular weight of from about 200 to about 8,000, with PEG 2,000, PEG 5,000 and PEG 8,000, which have molecular weights of 2,000, 5,000 and 8,000, respectively, being even more preferred. Other suitable hydrophilic polymers, in addition to those exemplified above, are known to the person skilled in the art. Generally, the polymers used may include polymers that can be attached to the polypeptides of the invention via alkylation or acylation reactions.

The polyethylene glycol molecules (or other chemical moieties) should be attached to the compounds of the invention with consideration of effects on functional or antigenic domains of the protein. There are a number of attachment methods available to those skilled in the art, e.g derivable from EP 0 401 384. For example, polyethylene glycol may be covalently bound through amino acid residues via a reactive group, such as, a free amino or carboxyl group. Reactive groups are those to which an activated polyethylene glycol molecule may be bound. The amino acid residues having a free amino group may include lysine residues and the N-terminal amino acid residues; those having a free carboxyl group may include aspartic acid residues glutamic acid residues and the C-terminal amino acid residue. Sulfhydryl groups may also be used as a reactive group for attaching the polyethylene glycol molecules. Preferred for therapeutic purposes is attachment at an amino group, such as attachment at the N-terminus or lysine group. One may specifically desire proteins chemically modified at the N-terminus.

Using polyethylene glycol as an illustration of the present composition, one may select from a variety of polyethylene glycol molecules (by molecular weight, branching, etc.), the proportion of polyethylene glycol molecules to protein (polypeptide) molecules in the reaction mix, the type of pegylation reaction to be performed, and the method of obtaining the selected N-terminally pegylated protein.

The method of obtaining the N-terminally pegylated preparation (i. e., separating this moiety from other monopegylated moieties if necessary) may be by purification of the N-terminally pegylated material from a population of pegylated protein molecules.

Selective proteins chemically modified at the N-terminus modification may be accomplished by reductive alkylation that exploits differential reactivity of different types of primary amino groups (lysine versus the N-terminus) available for derivatization in a particular protein. Under the appropriate reaction conditions, substantially selective derivatization of the protein at the N-terminus with a carbonyl group containing polymer is achieved.

As with the various polymers exemplified above, it is contemplated that the polymeric residues may contain functional groups in addition, for example, to those typically involved in linking the polymeric residues to the compound of the invention in accordance with the present invention. Such functionalities include, for example, carboxyl, amine, hydroxy and thiol groups.

In addition to residues of hydrophilic polymers, the chemical used to derivatize the polypeptides of the present invention can be a saccharide residue. Exemplary saccharides which can be derived include, for example, monosaccharides or sugar alcohols, such as erythrose, threose, ribose, arabinose, xylose, lyxose, fructose, sorbitol, mannitol and sedoheptulose, with preferred monosaccharides being fructose, mannose, xylose, arabinose, mannitol and sorbitol; and disaccharides, such as lactose, sucrose, maltose and cellobiose. Other saccharides include, for example, inositol and ganglioside head groups. Other suitable saccharides, in addition to those exemplified above, will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art based on the present disclosure. Generally, saccharides that may be used for derivatization include saccharides that can be attached to the polypeptides of the invention via alkylation or acylation reactions.

Moreover, the invention also encompasses derivatization of the compounds of the invention, for example, with lipids (including cationic, anionic, polymerized, charged, synthetic, saturated, unsaturated, and any combination of the above, etc.) or stabilizing agents. Preferably, the present invention encompasses derivatization of compound of the invention with compounds that may serve a stabilizing function (e.g., to increase the polypeptides half-life in solution, to make the polypeptides more water soluble, to increase the polypeptides hydrophilic or hydrophobic character, etc.). Polymers useful as stabilizing materials may be of natural, semi-synthetic (modified natural) or synthetic origin. Exemplary natural polymers include naturally occurring polysaccharides, such as, for example, arabinans, fructans, fucans, galactans, galacturonans, glucans, mannans, xylans (such as, for example, inulin), levan, fucoidan, carrageenan, galatocarolose, pectic acid, pectins, including amylose, pullulan, glycogen, amylopectin, cellulose, dextran, dextrin, dextrose, glucose, polyglucose, polydextrose, pustulan, chitin, agarose, keratin, chondroitin, dermatan, hyaluronic acid, alginic acid, xanthin gum, starch and various other natural homopolymer or heteropolymers, such as those containing one or more of the following aldoses, ketoses, acids or amines: erythose, threose, ribose, arabinose, xylose, lyxose, allose, altrose, glucose, dextrose, mannose, gulose, idose, galactose, talose, erythrulose, ribose, xylulose, psicose, fructose, sorbose, tagatose, mannitol, sorbitol, lactose, sucrose, trehalose, maltose, cellobiose, glycine, serine, threonine, cysteine, tyrosine, asparagine, glutamine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, lysine, arginine, histidine, glucuronic acid, gluconic acid, glucaric acid, galacturonic acid, mannuronic acid, glucosamine, galactosamine, and neuraminic acid, and naturally occurring derivatives thereof. Accordingly, suitable polymers include, for example, proteins, such as albumin, polyalginates, and polylactide-coglycolide polymers. Exemplary semi-synthetic polymers include carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxymethyl-cellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, methylcellulose, and methoxycellulose. Exemplary synthetic polymers include polyphosphazenes, hydroxyapatites, fluoro-apatite polymers, polyethylenes (such as, for example, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, and polyethylene terephthlate), polypropylenes (such as, for example, polypropylene glycol), polyurethanes (such as, for example, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinyl chloride and polyvinylpyrrolidone), polyamides including nylon, polystyrene, polylactic acids, fluorinated hydrocarbon polymers, fluorinated carbon polymers (such as, for example, polytetrafluoroethylene), acrylate, methacrylate, and polymethyl-methacrylate, and derivatives thereof. Methods for the preparation of derivatized polypeptides of the invention which employ polymers as stabilizing compounds will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, in view of the present disclosure, when coupled with information known in the art, such as that described and referred to in U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,290.

The “type III secretion system” (T3SS) is a complex molecular injection machine of many pathogenic gram-negative bacteria (see e.g. Cornelis G R et al., 2006; Büttner D et al., 2006). According to phylogenetic differences in amino acid sequences, T3S systems from animal- and plant-pathogenic or symbiotic bacteria have been classified into different families, including flagellar T3SS, Ysc, Inv-Mxi-Spa, Ssa-Esc, Hrp1, and Hrp2 T3S systems as well as T3SS of the Chlamydiales and Rhizobiales families (Büttner D et al., 2006). Within the present invention the term “T3SS” encompasses all classes of type III secretion systems.

Pathogenic bacteria use the needle-like structure of the T3SS as a sensory probe to detect the presence of eukaryotic organisms and to secrete proteins, called effector proteins directly from the bacterial cell into the eukaryotic host cell. Within the present invention T3SS-containing bacteria include Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Yersinia spp., Escherichia spp., Pseudomonas spp. and Chlamydia spp. These species include Salmonella bongori, Salmonella enterica, Salmonella subterranean, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella pullorum, Salmonella dublin, Salmonella arizonae, Salmonella choleraesius, Shigella flexneri, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella sonnei, Shigella Yersinia pestis, Yersinia enterocolitica, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis , Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains (EPEC), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas syringae . Subspecies of species above listed are also encompassed within the present invention.

Salmonellae are described to contain two type III secretion systems, which are encoded by two distinct gene clusters termed SPI-1 and SPI-2 (for Salmonella pathogenicity island) (Hueck C J, 1998). T3SS-containing Salmonella spp. refer herein to Salmonella spp. containing a T3SS encoded by SPI-1 and to Salmonella spp. containing a T3SS encoded SPI-2.

The term “cell” or “eukaryotic cell” means any type of isolated eukaryotic cell, cells in the context of a living organism or in tissue as well as isolated cells/tissues in cell cultures (for example HeLa cells, T84 cells, HL60 cells or XS52 cells etc.). Preferably, the term relates to higher eukaryotic cells, more preferably to animal cells, even more preferably to mammalian cells and most preferred to human cells. Epithelial cells, fibroblasts (for example synovial fibroblasts—see Example 9), primary cells, endothelial cells (for example human intestinal microvascular endothelial cells HIMEC—see Example 8), cells of the immune system like monocytes, dendritic cells, macrophages and/or NK cells are also envisaged.

Whether any particular polypeptide is at least 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to the sequence of a compound of the invention as described herein can be determined by any means known to the person skilled in the art, e.g. by using conventionally known computer programs. A preferred method for determining the best overall match between a query sequence (a sequence of the present invention) and a subject sequence, also referred to as a global sequence alignment, can be determined using the CLUSTALW computer program (Thompson, J. D., et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 2 (22): 4673-4680, (1994)), which is based on the algorithm of Higgins, D. G., et al., Computer Applications in the Biosciences (CABIOS), 8 (2): 189-191, (1992). The result of said global sequence alignment is in percent identity. Preferred parameters used in a CLUSTALW alignment of protein sequences to calculate percent identity via pairwise alignments are: Matrix=Gonnet, k-tuple=1, Number of Top Diagonals=5, Gap Penalty=3, Gap Open Penalty 10, Gap Extension Penalty=0. 1, Scoring Method=Percentage, Window Size=5 or the length of the subject polypeptide sequence, whichever is shorter. The pairwise and multiple alignment parameters provided for CLUSTALW above represent the default parameters as provided with the AlignX software program (Vector NTI suite of programs).

The present invention encompasses the application of a manual correction to the percent identity results, in the instance where the subject sequence is shorter than the query sequence because of N-terminal or C-terminal deletions, not because of internal deletions. If only the local pairwise percent identity is required, no manual correction is needed.

However, a manual correction may be applied to determine the global percent identity from a global polypeptide alignment. Percent identity calculations based upon global polypeptide alignments are often preferred since they reflect the percent identity between the polypeptide molecules as a whole (i. e., including any overhangs, not just overlapping regions), as opposed to, only local matching polypeptides. Manual corrections for global percent identity determinations are required since the CLUSTALW program does not account for N-terminal or C-terminal truncations of the subject sequence when calculating percent identity. For subject sequences truncated at the N-terminal or C-terminal ends, relative to the query sequence, the percent identity is corrected by calculating the number of amino acids of the query sequence that are N-terminal or C-terminal of the subject sequence, which are not matched/aligned, as a percent of the total amino acids of the query sequence. Whether an amino acid is matched/aligned is determined by results of the CLUSTALW sequence alignment. This percentage is then subtracted from the percent identity, calculated by the above CLUSTALW program using the specified parameters, to arrive at a final percent identity score. This corrected score may be used for the purposes of the present invention. In addition to the above method of aligning two or more polypeptide sequences to arrive at a percent identity value for the aligned sequences, it may be desirable in some circumstances to use a modified version of the CLUSTALW algorithm which takes into account known structural features of the sequences to be aligned, such as for example, the SWISS-PROT designations for each sequence. The result of such a modified CLUSTALW algorithm may provide a more accurate value of the percent identity for two polypeptide sequences. Support for such a modified version of CLUSTALW is provided within the CLUSTALW algorithm and would be readily appreciated to a person skilled in the art.

Polynucleotides encoding compound(s) of the invention may contain alterations in the coding regions, non-coding regions, or both. For example, the polynucleotides encoding compound(s) of the invention may contain alterations, which produce silent substitutions, additions, or deletions, but do not alter the properties or activities of the encoded polypeptide. Nucleotide variants produced by silent substitutions due to the degeneracy of the genetic code are preferred.

Compounds of the invention are preferably produced recombinantly, for example, by any suitable method known to the person skilled in the art. The present invention, thus, also encompasses methods for the production of polypeptides of the invention. Accordingly, the present invention contemplates polynucleotides encoding polypeptides of the invention and vectors containing said polynucleotides, host cells comprising those polynucleotides and/or vectors, and the production of polypeptides of the invention by recombinant techniques. A suitable vector may be, for example, a phage, plasmid, viral, or retroviral vector. Retroviral vectors may be replication-competent or replication-defective. In the latter case, viral propagation generally will occur only in complementing host cells.

Polynucleotides encoding polypeptides of the invention may be joined to a vector containing a selectable marker for propagation in a host.

As indicated, the expression vectors will preferably include at least one selectable marker. Such markers include, for instance, dihydrofolate reductase, G418, or neomycin resistance for eukaryotic cell culture and tetracycline, kanamycin, or ampicillin resistance genes for culturing in E. coli and other bacteria.

Representative examples of appropriate hosts include, but are not limited to, bacterial cells, such as E. coli, Streptomyces and Salmonella typhimurium cells; fungal cells, such as yeast cells (e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Pichia pastoris ); insect cells such as Drosophila melanogaster S2 and Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 cells; animal cells such as CHO, COS, HEK 293, and Bowes melanoma cells; and plant cells. Appropriate culture mediums and conditions for the above described host cells are known in the art.

Vectors preferred for use in bacteria are known to the person skilled in the art.

Introduction of the construct into the host cell can be effected by methods described in many standard laboratory manuals, such as Davis et al., ( Basic Methods In Molecular Biology (1986)).

Polypeptides of the invention can be recovered and purified from recombinant cell cultures by any suitable method known to the person skilled in the art.

Polypeptides of the invention can also be recovered from: products purified from natural sources, including bodily fluids, tissues and cells, whether directly isolated or cultured; products of chemical synthetic procedures; and products produced by recombinant techniques from a prokaryotic or eukaryotic host, including, for example, bacterial, yeast, higher plant, insect, and mammalian cells.

In addition, polypeptides of the invention can be chemically synthesized using techniques known in the art (Creighton, 1983, Proteins: Structures and Molecular Principles , W. H. Freeman & Co., N. Y., and Hunkapiller et al., Nature, 310: 105-111 (1984)). For example, a polypeptide corresponding to a fragment of a polypeptide sequence of the invention can be synthesized by use of a peptide synthesizer.

It is envisaged that pharmaceutical compositions of the invention comprise one or more compounds of the invention which are further modified as explained herein, for example which are linked to a cargo molecule and/or linked to a cell-specific targeting agent. It is likewise envisaged that the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention comprise the nucleic acids and/or polynucleotides of the present invention. The pharmaceutical composition may optionally comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

A pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention may be administered with the help of various delivery systems known to the person skilled in the art, e. g., encapsulation in liposomes, microparticles, microcapsules, recombinant cells capable of expressing the compound, receptor-mediated endocytosis (see, e. g., Wu and Wu, J. Biol. Chem. 262: 4429-4432 (1987)), construction of a nucleic acid as part of a retroviral or other vector, etc. Methods of introduction include intradermal, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intravenous, subcutaneous, intranasal, epidural, and oral routes. The composition may be administered by any convenient route, for example by infusion or bolus injection, by absorption through epithelial or mucocutaneous linings (e. g., oral mucosa, rectal and intestinal mucosa, etc.) and may be administered together with other biologically active agents. Administration can be systemic or local. In addition, it may be desirable to introduce the pharmaceutical compounds or compositions of the invention into the central nervous system by any suitable route, including intraventricular and intrathecal injection; intraventricular injection may be facilitated by an intraventricular catheter, for example, attached to a reservoir, such as an Ommaya reservoir. Pulmonary administration can also be employed, e.g., by use of an inhaler or nebulizer, and formulation with an aerosolizing agent.

In a specific embodiment, it may be desirable to administer the pharmaceutical compounds or compositions of the invention locally to the area in need of treatment; this may be achieved by, for example, and not by way of limitation, local infusion during surgery, topical application, e. g., in conjunction with a wound dressing after surgery, by injection, by means of a catheter, by means of a suppository, or by means of an implant, said implant being of a porous, non-porous, or gelatinous material, including membranes, such as sialastic membranes, or fibers. Preferably, when administering a protein of the invention, care must be taken to use materials to which the protein does not absorb.

A preferred method of local administration is by direct injection. Preferably, the compounds of the present invention as well as the nucleic acids/vectors of the present invention is/are complexed with a delivery vehicle to be administered by direct injection into or locally within the area of arteries.

For systemic administration, compounds of the invention can be complexed to a targeted delivery vehicle.

In another embodiment the pharmaceutical composition may be delivered directly to disease sites in internal organs, body cavities and the like by use of imaging devices used to guide an injecting needle directly to the disease site. The pharmaceutical composition may also be administered to disease sites at the time of surgical intervention.

In another embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition can be delivered in a vesicle, in particular a liposome (Langer, R., Science 249:1527-1533 (1990); Treat et al., in Liposomes in the Therapy of Infectious Disease and Cancer, Lopez-Berestein and Fidler (eds.), Liss, N.Y., pp. 353-365 (1989); Lopez-Berestein, ibid., pp. 317-327).

In yet another embodiment, the composition can be delivered in a controlled release system. In one embodiment, a pump may be used (Sefton, CRC Crit. Ref. Biomed. Eng. 14: 201 (1987); Buchwald et al., Surgery 88: 507 (1980); Saudek et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 321: 574 (1989)). In another embodiment, polymeric materials can be used (see Medical Applications of Controlled Release, Langer and Wise (eds.), CRC Pres., Boca Raton, Fla. (1974); Controlled Drug Bioavailability, Drug Product Design and Performance, Smolen and Ball (eds.), Wiley, New York (1984); Ranger and Peppas, J., Macromol. Sci. Rev. Macromol. Chem. 23: 61 (1983); see also Levy et al., Science 228: 190 (1985); During et al., Ann. Neurol. 25: 351 (1989); Howard et al., J. Neurosurg. 71: 105 (1989)). In yet another embodiment, a controlled release system can be placed in proximity of the therapeutic target, i. e., the brain, thus requiring only a fraction of the systemic dose (see, e. g., Goodson, in Medical Applications of Controlled Release, supra, vol. 2, pp. 115-138 (1984)).

Preferably the pharmaceutical composition is in a form, which is suitable for oral, local or systemic administration. In a preferred embodiment the pharmaceutical composition is administered locally, orally or systemically.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable” means approved by a regulatory agency or other generally recognized pharmacopeia for use in animals, and more particularly in humans. The term “carrier” refers to a diluent, adjuvant, excipient, or vehicle with which the therapeutic is administered. Such a carrier is pharmaceutically acceptable, i.e. is non-toxic to a recipient at the dosage and concentration employed. It is preferably isotonic, hypotonic or weakly hypertonic and has a relatively low ionic strength, such as provided by a sucrose solution. Examples of suitable pharmaceutical carriers are described in “Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences” by E. W. Martin.

Generally, the ingredients are supplied either separately or mixed together in unit dosage form, for example, as a dry lyophilised powder or water free concentrate in a hermetically sealed container such as an ampoule or sachette indicating the quantity of active agent.

Assays, e.g. those described in the Examples, may optionally be employed to help identify optimal dosage ranges. The precise dose to be employed in the formulation will also depend on the route of administration, and the seriousness of the disease or disorder, and should be decided according to the judgment of the practitioner and each patient's circumstances.

It is envisaged that pharmaceutical compositions of the invention comprise the compounds of the invention in a therapeutically effective amount.

The term “administered” means administration of a therapeutically effective dose of the aforementioned composition. By “therapeutically effective amount” is meant a dose that produces the effects for which it is administered, preferably this effect is the downregulation of cytokines, and/or cytokine receptors and/or genes which respond to cytokines. The exact dose will depend on the purpose of the treatment, and will be ascertainable by one skilled in the art using known techniques. As is known in the art and described above, adjustments for systemic versus localized delivery, age, body weight, general health, sex, diet, time of administration, drug interaction and the severity of the condition may be necessary, and will be ascertainable with routine experimentation by those skilled in the art.

The pharmaceutical composition may be used in both human therapy and veterinary therapy. The compounds described herein having the desired therapeutic activity may be administered in a physiologically acceptable carrier to a patient, as described herein. The concentration of the therapeutically active compound in the formulation may vary from about 0.01-100 wt %. The agent may be administered alone or in combination with other treatments.

A typical dose can be, for example, in the range of 0.001 to 1000 μg; however, doses below or above this exemplary range are envisioned, especially considering the aforementioned factors.

It is also envisaged that the pharmaceutical compositions are employed in co-therapy approaches, i.e. in co-administration with other medicaments or drugs, for example other immunosuppressive drugs.

Topical administration of the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention is useful when the desired treatment involves areas or organs readily accessible by topical administration. For a topically application, e.g. to the skin, the pharmaceutical composition is preferably formulated with a suitable paste, ointment, lotion, cream, gel or transdermal patches.

In a further embodiment compound(s) of the invention provided in the form of a living therapeutic. The term “living therapeutic” means that said compound(s) of the invention, for example as defined in the context of the pharmaceutical composition, is/are expressed in a live carrier. Accordingly, the present invention relates to polynucleotides encoding compounds of the invention as defined herein above which are suitable for expression in a living cell or carrier. The term “live carrier” relates to any appropriate living host cell or virus known to the person skilled in the art. Representative examples of appropriate hosts include, but are not limited to, bacterial cells such as Escherichia coli or Lactobacillus , fungal cells, such as yeast cells, protozoa, insect cells, or animal cells. Preferably, the term relates to attenuated bacteria, attenuated fungal cells or attenuated protozoa.

The present invention also relates to the use of a compound of the invention for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition. It is envisaged that compound(s) of the invention are linked/attached to a cargo molecule and/or a cell-specific targeting molecule as described herein. The mentioned pharmaceutical composition is for use in any of the diseases described herein.

The terms “leucine-rich repeat(s)” and “leucine-rich domain(s)” are used herein interchangeably.

The terms “cell-penetrating peptide”, “CPP”, “cell-penetrating protein”, “cell-permeable peptide”, “cell-penetrating protein” and are used herein interchangeably.

The terms “protein transduction domain” (PTD) and “cell-penetrating entity” are used herein interchangeably.

“Autopenetration” or “cell-penetration” as used herein describes the capability of compounds of the invention to penetrate the cell membrane and to enter the cytosol of a cell without the assistance of exogenous factors, such as a T3SS.

The terms “autopenetrating”, “autonomously penetrating” and “penetrate/pass/cross the membrane of eukaryotic cells without the assistance of exogenous factors, such as a T3SS” are used herein interchangeably.

The terms “amino acid sequence” and “polypeptide sequence” are used herein interchangeably.

It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, protocols, proteins, bacteria, vectors, reagents etc. described herein as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention that will be limited only by the appended claims.

Several documents are cited throughout the text of this specification. Each of the documents cited herein (including all patents, patent applications, scientific publications, manufacturer's specifications, instructions, etc.), whether supra or infra, is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the invention is not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention.

It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the”, include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a polypeptide” includes one or more of such polypeptides, and reference to “the method” includes reference to equivalent steps and methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art that could be modified or substituted for the methods described herein.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic overview of the recombinant SspH1 and its derivative SspH1-Nter. SspH1-Nter lacks the C-terminal domain of SspH1 which encodes an ubiquitin ligase. Proteins were tagged with a C-terminal 6× His-tag (not shown) for purification.

FIG. 2 shows an immunoblot analysis of subcellular fractionations of HeLa cells incubated with 25 μg/ml SspH1 and SspH1-Nter, respectively. In order to assess their purity, membrane and cytosolic fractions were analyzed using antibodies against transferrin receptor (TF-R) and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), respectively (left panel). Purity of cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions was determined using antibodies against tubulin and Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD-1), respectively (right panel). SspH1 and SspH1-Nter partition was assessed using anti-FLAG antibody. CF: cytoplasmic fraction MF: membrane fraction NF: nuclear fraction.

FIG. 3 shows an immunofluorescence microscopy of HeLa cells incubated with SspH1-Cy3 and SspH1-Nter-Cy3 1 h. DNA was stained with DAPI. Both fluorescence images were merged.

FIG. 4 shows a quenched time lapse assay of HeLa cells incubated with YopM-ALEXA FLUOR® 488, SspH1-ALEXA FLUOR® 488 or Tat-GFP-GSK. HeLa cells were incubated with 20 μg/ml protein. Samples were taken from the incubation at different time points. Extracellular fluorescence was quenched with trypan blue (final concentration: 0.2%) and intracellular fluorescence was measured using a flow cytometer. Data are expressed as geometric means of fluorescence intensities from at least 10,000 cells relative to background fluorescence of untreated cells, and are presented as means±standard deviations from three independent experiments. FIGS. 1 to 4 show that SspH1 and SspH1-Nter translocate into the host cell cytoplasm independently of Salmonella 's T3SS.

FIG. 5 shows a Membrane integrity assay of HeLa cells incubated with SspH1, YopM and Tat, respectively. Cells were incubated with 20 μg/ml protein and co-incubated with 1 μg/ml propidium iodide (P1).

FIG. 6 shows Recombinant SspH1 and SspH1-Nter do not have cytotoxic effects on Hela cells. Cells were incubated with SspH1 and SspH1-Nter, respectively, for 1, 6, and 24 h and analysed using the CYTOTOX 96® Non-Radioactive Cytotoxicity Assay. LDH: lactate dehydrogensase.

FIG. 7 shows in vitro ubiquitination assays which were performed in the presence of UbcH5c. Shown are synthesized unanchored polyubiquitin chains detected by anti-ubiquitin western blot. Upon incubation with E1, E2 and ubiquitin, SspH1 was able to remove ubiquitin from the E2 enzyme and perform self-ubiquitination

FIG. 8 shows that recombinant SspH1 ubiquitinates PKN1 in vitro. Shown are immunoblot analysis using anti-HA, anti-PKN1, and anti-His antibodies of reactions performed in the presence of Ub-Ha, E1, E2, Ub-Ha, SspH1, and PKN1. Upon incubation with E1, E2 and ubiquitin, SspH1 was able to remove ubiquitin from the E2 enzyme and ubiquitinate PKN1.

FIG. 9 shows that recombinant SspH1 co-immunoprecipitates with PKN1 from transfected cells and self-ubiquitinates. HeLa cells were transiently transfected with PKN1-Myc. 24 h later, cells were incubated with FLAG-tagged SspH1 for 3 h. Following SspH1 incubation, PKN1 was immunoprecipitated and the immunoprecipitates and supernatants were immunoblotted using anti-FLAG and anti-Ubiquitin antibodies.

FIG. 10 shows the effect of SspH1 on IL-8 mRNA in A549 cells stimulated with IL1β. A549 cells were incubated with SspH1 for 3 h and subsequently stimulated with 20 ng/ml IL1β. After RNA isolation and cDNA synthesis, all qRT-PCR data were obtained using SYBR green and IL8-specific primers. The HPRT1 gene (hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl-transferase I), a low abundance housekeeping gene, was used as reference. Data represent means and standard deviations of at least three independent experiments each performed in duplicate * p<0.05.

FIGS. 6 to 10 show that recombinant SspH1 possesses E3 ubiquitin ligase activity.

FIGS. 11 a to 11 e shows an uptake analysis of effector proteins of the LPX family. Upper panel: Confocal laser scanning immunofluorescence microscopy of HeLa cells incubated with IpaH1.4-Cy3, IpaH4.5-Cy3, IpaH7.8-Cy3, IpaH9.8-Cy3, and SlrP-cy3 for 1 h. Actin was counterstained with phalloidin ALEXA FLUOR® 488 and nuclei with DRAQ5. All three fluorescence images were merged and confocal Z-stack projections are included in all images. The cross hairs show the position of the xy and yz planes. Scale bars: 10 μm. Lower panel: Quenched time-lapse assay of HeLa cells incubated with different ALEXA FLUOR® 488 labeled effector proteins (20 μg/ml). Samples were taken from the incubation at different time points. Extracellular fluorescence was quenched with trypan blue (final concentration: 0.2%) and intracellular fluorescence was measured using a flow cytometer. Data are expressed as geometric means of fluorescence intensities from at least 10,000 cells relative to fluorescence of untreated cells, and are presented as means±standard deviations from three independent experiments.

FIG. 12 shows a schematic overview of an in-silico prediction analysis YopM, SspH1, SspH2, SlrP, IpaH1.4, IpaH2.5, IpaH3, IpaH4.5, IpaH7.8, and IpaH9.8. Boxes indicate sequence segments containing predicted PTD sequences (PTDs of maximal length).

FIG. 13 . FIG. 13 a shows an in vitro ubiquitination assay of recombinant SspH1. Upon incubation with E1, E2 and ubiquitin, SspH1 is able to remove ubiquitin from the E2 enzyme and to self-ubiquitinate (see also FIG. 7 ). In the presence of PKN1, SspH1, but not SspH1-Nter, polyubiquitinates the kinase ( FIG. 13 a ). FIG. 13 b shows II8 mRNA expression in A549 cells following incubation with SspH1 and subsequent stimulation with TNFα.

FIGS. 14 to 22 shows amino acid sequences of SlrP, SspH1, SspH2, IpaH1.4, IpaH2.5, IpaH3, IpaH4.5, IpaH7.8 and IpaH9.8. leucine-rich repeats (called “LRR stretch”) are marked in light grey and are non-edged. E3 Ubiquitin ligase domains are marked in dark grey and are edged. Sequence sections within which the protein transduction domains (PTDs) are predicted are bold and underlined. Marked are the maximal sequence sections within the PTD is predicted. PTDs can correspond to the marked sequence sections or to C-terminally and/or N-terminally truncated fragments of the marked sequence sections.

FIG. 23 shows a cell fractionation of HeLa cells incubated with recombinant IpaH1.4, IpaH2.5, IpaH4.5, IpaH7.8, and IpaH9.8, respectively.

Western blot analysis after cell fractionation of HeLa cells which were incubated with the indicated LPX effector protein (25 μg/ml) for 3 h. Proteins were separated by 12.5% SDS-PAGE and immobilized on a nitrocellulose membrane by Western blotting. Proteins were detected using an a FLAG-antibody and corresponding PO-conjugated secondary antibody. Purity of both the cytoplasmic (CF) and membrane fraction (MF) were assesses using an α-GAPDH-antibody and a TF-R-antibody and corresponding PO-conjugated secondary antibodies.

FIG. 24 shows a confocal fluorescence microscopy of HeLa cells incubated with recombinant IpaH1.4, IpaH4.5, IpaH7.8, IpaH9.8, or SlrP, concerning co-localization with the endocytic markers Rab5, Rab7, and CD63. HeLa cells were incubated with the indicated recombinant, Cy3-labeled (red) LPX effector proteins (25 μg/ml) for 1 h (i), 3 h (ii), and 6 h (iii), respectively (A)-(F). The endocytic markers Rab5, Rab7, and CD63 were detected using appropriate primary antibodies and stained via incubation with Cy2-labelled (green) secondary antibodies. DNA was stained using Draq5 (blue). Overlays of all three channels are shown in large squares; pictures of the individual channels are shown on the right. Magnification 63×.

FIG. 25 shows a flow cytometry analysis of effector proteins of the LPX family. HeLa cells were with endocytic inhibitors cytochalasin D (2.5 μM), amiloride (3 mM), filipin (7.5 μM), nocodazole (20 μM), dynasore (80 μM), methyl-β-cyclodextrin (5 mM) for 1 h prior to the addition of recombinant LPX effectors. Three hours later the cells were washed with D-PBS (with Ca 2+ /Mg 2+ ), trypsinized, resuspended in D-PBS (without Ca 2+ /Mg 2+ ), diluted with trypan blue (final concentration 0.2%) and analyzed by flow cytometry

FIG. 26 shows a membrane integrity assay of HeLa cells incubated with recombinant IpaH1.4, IpaH2.5, IpaH4.5, IpaH7.8, IpaH9.8, or SlrP. HeLa cells were co-incubated with both the indicated LPX effector protein (25 μg/ml) and propidium iodide (PI) (1 μg/ml) at 37° C. or 4° C. for a total duration of 6 h and 3 h, respectively, (A)-(F). Samples were taken from the ongoing incubation at given time points and subjected to FACS analysis. Fluorescence of PI was detected at 617 nm. All samples were measured twice and three independent experiments were carried out for each protein. (A)-(F): Diagrams show the fluorescence intensity of HeLa cells co-incubated with the indicated ALEXA FLUOR® 488-labeled LPX effector protein and PI at different incubation times both at 37° C. and 4° C. in comparison to HeLa cells which were solely incubated with PI (dashed lines). The geometric mean fluorescence [arbitrary units] (normalized to negative/untreated control cells) is plotted against the incubation time [minutes].

FIG. 27 shows the relative release of LDH of HeLa cells upon incubation with recombinant IpaH1.4, IpaH2.5, IpaH4.5, IpaH7.8, IpaH9.8, or SlrP. HeLa cells were incubated with the indicated LPX effector protein (25 μg/ml) for a total duration of 24 h, 6 h, and 1 h, respectively, (A)-(F). The release of LDH was measured using the CYTOTOX® 96 Non-Radioactive Cytotoxicity Assay. Diagrams show the relative amount of released LDH normalized to the amount releases by non-treated (Medium control) which was set equal to 1. Additionally, a LDH positive control was measured. LDH: Lactate dehydrogenase.

FIG. 28 shows an in vitro ubiquitination assay using either recombinant IpaH1.4, IpaH2.5, IpaH4.5, IpaH7.8, IpaH9.8, or SlrP. Western blot analysis of in vitro ubiquitination assays which were performed in 40 μl reaction mixtures containing (+) or not containing (−) the indicated protein (4 μg), HA-tagged ubiquitin (2 μg), E2 (UbcH5b)(2 μg), and E1 (0.5 μg). Reactions were stopped by the addition of 4× SDS sample buffer without DTT. Samples were subjected to 10% SDS-PAGE and immobilized on a Nitrocellulose membrane by Western blotting. Ubiquitin was detected using an α-HA antibody and a corresponding PO-conjugated secondary antibody. Different Western blots are separated by dashed lines.

SEQ ID NO: 1: Amino acid sequence of SlrP from Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium str. 14028S

SEQ ID NO: 2: Amino acid sequence of SspH1 from Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium str. 14028S

SEQ ID NO: 3: Amino acid sequence of SspH2 from Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium str. 14028S

SEQ ID NO: 4: Amino acid sequence of IpaH1.4 from Shigella flexneri

SEQ ID NO: 5: Amino acid sequence of IpaH2.5 from Shigella flexneri

SEQ ID NO: 6: Amino acid sequence of IpaH3 from Shigella flexneri

SEQ ID NO: 7: Amino acid sequence of IpaH4.5 from Shigella flexneri

SEQ ID NO: 8: Amino acid sequence of IpaH7.8 from Shigella flexneri

SEQ ID NO: 9: Amino acid sequence of IpaH9.8 from Shigella flexneri

SEQ ID NO: 10: Nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1

SEQ ID NO: 11: Nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2

SEQ ID NO: 12: Nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 3

SEQ ID NO: 13: Nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 4

SEQ ID NO: 14: Nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 5

SEQ ID NO: 15: Nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 6

SEQ ID NO: 16: Nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 7

SEQ ID NO: 17: Nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 8

SEQ ID NO: 18: Nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 9

SEQ ID NOs: 19 to 27: Ubiquitin ligase domains of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 9 as indicated in FIGS. 14-22

SEQ ID NOs: 28 to 36: Leucine rich repeat stretches or areas of comprising Leucine rich repeat stretches SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 9 as indicated in FIGS. 14-22

SEQ ID NOs: 37 to 65 and 550: Maximal protein-transduction domains of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 9 as indicated in FIGS. 14-22

SEQ ID NOs: 66 to 529: Protein-transduction domains of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 9 as determined in Example 5 and indicated in Example 9

SEQ ID NOs: 530 to 549: Oligonucleotide sequences as indicated in Table 3.3

The following examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

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