[image: Seminario Susanne flyer.png] *Towards molecular diagnostic in clinical microbiology* Amidst the escalating numbers of infections attributed to multi-drug resistant bacterial pathogens, we are working on a comprehensive genome sequencing project targeting bacterial isolates of selected problematic pathogens - namely, *Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, *and* Klebsiella pneumoniae.* The resultant sequence data will be aligned with antibiotic resistance data using traditional culture-based methodologies in medical microbiology, alongside an examination of virulence-associated traits. Our overarching vision is that Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) of bacterial pathogens will provide detailed insights not only into the bacterial resistance profile, but also shed light on pathogenicity potential and the phylogenetic relatedness of nosocomial pathogens. This, in turn, holds the promise of serving as the foundation for a more precisely targeted treatment approach and the effective implementation of infection control measures. To fulfil this vision, the WGS data will be harnessed to achieve the following objectives: i) establish a pan-genomic database encompassing all conceivable sequence variations within a bacterial species. This forms a crucial prerequisite for the robust and automated extraction of sequence information, ii) correlate phenotypically determined resistance with molecular resistance markers, with the ultimate aim of genotypically predicting resistance, and iii) develop a user-friendly tool for visualizing the outcomes of genotyping, facilitating a clearer and more accessible understanding of the results. In essence, our undertaking seeks to harness the power of WGS to not only comprehensively document bacterial genetic variations but also to enhance our ability to predict and combat antibiotic resistance, all while advancing our understanding of the intricacies of nosocomial pathogen dynamics. ***************************************************************************** *Prof. Dra. Andrea M. Smania* CIQUIBIC CONICET Dpto. Química Biológica Ranwel Caputto Facultad de Ciencias Químicas Universidad Nacional de Córdoba Haya de la Torre s/n Ciudad Universitaria X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina phone: +54-351-535-3855
