Required for bacterial invasion of host cells. Controls IpaB and IpaC secretion, and the efficiency with which they are physically inserted into target cell membranes. These proteins are exported via TTSS to form a pore in the host membrane that allows the translocation of the other effectors into the host cytoplasm. Along with IpaB, is essential for both blocking secretion through the Mxi/Spa translocon in the absence of a secretion-inducing signal, and for controlling the level of secretion in the presence of this signal.