Leptospiral proteins and uses thereof

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a Leptospiral virulence modifying (VM) protein LA_3490 and a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant, wherein the VM protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

• a) SEQ ID NO:2, and
• b) a functional fragment of SEQ ID NO:2 comprising two ricin B chain-like functional domains,
• wherein the ricin B chain-like functional domains are N-terminal fragments of a full-length Leptospiral VM protein LA_3490,
• wherein the two N-terminal ricin B chain-like functional domains comprise a targeting domain, and
• wherein the pharmaceutical composition is a vaccine that elicits a protective immune response.